First of all, there has to be a commitment to the marriage, as opposed to commitment to oneself. By this I mean that we must learn to put the interests of our spouse ahead of our own interests. As the Bible says in Philippians 2 : verse 3, " Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, let each of you regard one another as more important than himself." As we begin to consider the other person's needs, we will begin to find fulfillment in the marriage, and there will be no desire to go off looking for fulfillment elsewhere. Here are some basic principles which will definitely help.
1...Listen to your mate. Pay attention to what he or she has to say.
2...Realize that your mate is your best friend. Talk out your problems with each other, instead of taking them to people outside the marriage.
3...Don't form close relationships with business acquaintances. Especially those of the opposite sex. Don' t share personal information. Beware of forming close emotional bonds.
4...Develop a friendship with a person of the same sex. Make yourself accountable to him or her. Allow him or her to challenge your actions. Above all though, remember that your closest relationship should be that with your spouse.
5...Finally, and most importantly, maintain a close, intimate relationship with God. Be obedient to Him. Memorize Ephesians 5 : 22-25 as applicable, and practice the principles of love as outlined in 1 Corinthians : 13.
In closing, I would like to point out that I have been married to the same Lady for 43 years, we have raised six children, and are currently raising two grandchildren, and. believe it or not, we have a very peaceful and contented marriage.