Let’s Live Together! by Rayna Pittman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that people are living together more before marriage. The CDC also says that couples that cohabit before marriage are more likely to divorce than couples that do not. The question then is, “Just because something is popular and culturally accepted, does that make it a wise thing to do?” Why do so many couples that live together before marriage get a divorce? There are no doubt a variety of reasons, but perhaps the difference is that couples that take the test drive before marriage make their decision based on performance. If the partners fail to maintain that level of performance then the relationship suffers because its foundation rests on the test score. However, for couples that decide to commit to love in spite of performance, the foundation of the relationship rests on something less volatile than human inconsistency. The leap of faith to love may be easier for couples who have not lived together because they are already committing to the unknown. It is a wonderful thing to know someone exists who will love you in spite of all of your faults. Funny thing, that’s how God loves us. No wonder marriage requires the same kind of love. After all, God created marriage. Romans 5:8 declares, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” God committed Himself to us in spite of our performance. Our relationship with God is likewise based on commitment. So, the next time a man asks you if you want to live with him, think about how you want to be loved. Your best response may by, “Oh, you say you want to marry me?”