A recent Pew Research poll titled “Teens’ Future Plans and Goals” found that 86% of teens say it’s extremely or very important to them to have a job or career they enjoy. Sixty-nine percent say close friendships matter deeply. And 58% say it’s very important to make a lot of money.
You might notice a glaring absence in that list: marriage. Just 36% of teens say getting married is very important.
This shift may seem unremarkable in a culture that increasingly values autonomy, financial success and self-expression. But none of those things — on their own — actually lead to human flourishing.
According to Dr. Brad Wilcox of the National Marriage Project, the happiest Americans aren’t the wealthiest or the most successful in their careers. They’re not the ones with the largest Instagram following or the most adventurous travel resume. They’re not even the ones with the tightest circle of friends.
The happiest Americans are married, churchgoing and often parents. In fact, the happiest within this group are those who report being in a good marriage.
Wilcox’s findings are grounded in years of data, and they affirm something that’s been proclaimed in Scripture: sacrificial, covenantal love — especially within marriage — brings a depth of meaning that achievement alone cannot.