Did you know that the rate of marriages today is on the decline?  Statistics indicate that fewer folks are choosing to enter into holy matrimony these days when compared to just 20 years ago.  The reasons are varied, but certainly there is a lot of skepticism that marriage is good.  We have tended to focus often on the problems in marriage and may forget that there is more to the story.

Did you know that there is good news for those who are married?  Given the high rate of divorces and the prevalence of high profile marriages that appear to go wrong, it is easy to miss the good news.  Here are some of the benefits of a healthy and happy marriage:
It promotes physical wellbeing
Married people generally take better care of themselves.  They adopt better habits and make use of medical care.  Married people, especially men, have been found to live longer than unmarried people.  Married folk tend to spend less time engaging in risky behaviors once married.  Lower rates of heart failure, cancer and other diseases have been found in those who are happily married. 
It promotes emotional wellbeing
Married mothers are less likely to experience depression.  Married people are less likely to commit suicide.  Marriage appears to decrease the rates of alcohol and substance use among adults and their children.  Marriage increases levels of social support by having a spouse as well as friends and others who come alongside the couple.
It promotes financial wellbeing
People who marry and stay married are more likely to have greater wealth over their lifetime than those who stay single, cohabitate or divorce.  Married couples tend to save and invest more.  They tend to receive more financial assistance from family than single people or those who cohabitate.  Married men tend to be more productive and earn more than single men. 
It is good for children
Research suggests that the ideal situation for children is to have both their biological parents engaged in their lives.  Marriage provides the optimum opportunity for both mother and father to be involved with their children.  Research has suggested that married men are more likely to be invested in the lives of their children than unmarried or divorced men.  Moreover, on average, children without two parents are less likely to go to college, more likely to have teen pregnancy, more likely to be involved in delinquencies, and generally have fewer advantages in life.
It is good for society
For some of the reasons already mentioned, better physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing reduces cost to our nation.  At the same time, divorced and single parenthood creates significant costs to our society at many levels.  Many states are becoming aware of this and starting initiatives to educate and help make marriages work.
It promotes greater sexual satisfaction
“Contrary to the popular belief that married sex is boring and infrequent, married people report higher levels of sexual satisfaction than both sexually active singles and cohabiting couples, according to the most comprehensive and recent survey of sexuality”  (Popenoe and Whitehead, 2004).  Raise your hands if you thought this would be the finding about sex in marriage based on the messages of our culture?
It is God given as the most intimate relationship available to us on Earth
God created marriage.  Genesis 2:24 says “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”  It is the way He established for us to experience full intimacy with another human that is not possible in our other relationships.  Is it any doubt that our God who is wise, relational, and loving would create an institution that can be highly beneficial?

Research is very clear—healthy marriages provide helpful benefits to individuals, children and our society.  Keep in mind that marriage is not the magic cure for our personal and societal ills.  Moreover, these benefits do not mean that every person should be married.  The benefits listed above are for those who desire to enter into marriage or who are considering whether they remain committed to their marriage or not.  If you are getting married, start today to look for ways to have the best marriage you can.  If you are already married, look for ways to keep growing and enjoying the relationship you have.  If you have not been experiencing a marriage you truly enjoy, start looking today for ways to improve it.  As you can see, there are quite a few rewards to be gained.

The findings above were gathered from the following sources.  Please consider reviewing them for more thorough information about the benefits of marriage:

Popenoe, D. and Whitehead, B. D. (2006). The State of our Unions: The Social Health of Marriage in Amercia.  Retrieved on 10/13/06 from

http://marriage.rutgers.edu/Publications/SOOU/TEXTSOOU2006.htm

Popenoe, D. and Whitehead, B. D. (2004). Ten Important Research Findings on Marriage and Choosing a Marriage Partner: Helpful Facts for Young People. Retrieved October 13, 2006 from http://marriage.rutgers.edu/Publications/pubtenthingsyoungadults.htm.

Wilcox, W. B., Doherty, W.J., Fisher, H., Galston, W.A., et.al. (2005).  Why Marriage Matters: Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences, 2^nd Edition. Institute of American Values: New York.