Why Would You Settle For Less?
When we go shopping for clothes, shoes, or a hat that makes a fashion statement, we can try them on before we purchase them. If they don’t fit or we decide we don’t like them, we put them back on the rack.
Some people treat marriage like a shopping trip. But, you don’t get to “try it on” and simply return it if it does not work. It’s a lot more complicated than that. So what about an “easier” route? Have you contemplated maybe just living together? After all, you don’t want to marry the “wrong person” and suffer serious consequences. Let it be known, shacking is not the answer.
Living together may prevent a feeling of commitment. But on the flip side, your live-in partner has the same ability to walk away at any time without any obligation. Regardless of how much you have contributed to the relationship, financially or emotionally, you have no legal rights. My mother used to say, “Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?”
Most importantly, cohabiting before marriage betrays what God, who is our Creator, says is best for us. Genesis 1:27-28 tells us that God unites us as husband and wife. God designed the marriage institution so that we can have a companion we could trust and share life with. 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 tell us that we should not lend our bodies to indulge in sexual activities before marriage. So, some may ask if it’s okay to just live together without having sex. God’s best is that you don’t. As a Christian, cohabiting, even without sex, mars God’s reputation.
Though we live in a culture that doesn’t cherish marriage the way God does, be careful to give serious thought before entering into it. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to trust God, not your own understanding. If you follow the leading of God, who makes no mistakes, you will not have to pretest marriage, but can enter into it with confidence, respect and peace.
