Is Marriage Just a Piece of Paper?
Recently I had a conversation with a man who lived with a woman for over 20 years but refused to marry her. She begged him. She "cornered" him many times (his words). It was very important to her. Something she deeply desired. He said he didn't want to get married again after his previous divorce. He said it was "just a piece of paper." Tragically, she died of cancer about 3 years ago, never to receive the marriage she always wanted.
Just a piece of paper? I seem to hear that a lot these days. Is that all marriage is? No. It's much bigger than that, and marriage-haters know it. If marriage is just a piece of paper, then why not just sign it? If the person you "love" is begging for it and it is extremely important to them, and it's no big deal to you, then why not just give it to them? I'll tell you why. It's because marriage is a huge deal.
Marriage means commitment, and marriage-haters are terrified of commitment. They aren't committed to anything but their own comfort and pleasure, but marriage is a commitment to someone else.
Marriage-haters don't want to get married because they want to leave their options open. "What if I get tired of her? What if things get too messy? What if I meet someone else?"
Marriage haters want to live an uncommitted life, but they don't want to be graded on it, and that's what divorce looks like. Divorce looks like a failing grade on your ability to be committed to something other than yourself.
Why get married? Because sex is sacred. It is a precious gift created solely for marriage. Outside of marriage, though, it is extremely destructive to self, others, and society. Don't want to get married? That's fine. But do society a favor and keep your hands to yourself.
Why get married? Because the person you are with is worth committing to. They deserve your faithfulness. They deserve your devotion. People are precious to God. They are worth committing to. And if you aren't willing to make a life-long commitment, then you don't deserve to be with anybody. If you can't commit to anyone other than yourself, then you don't deserve anybody but yourself.
If a man and woman want to live together in a sexual relationship, they need to get married. There's no place for shacking up, cohabitation, living together, or promiscuity. They need to make a life-long commitment of love and faithfulness to one another. If you aren't ready for commitment, then you aren't relationship material. That's what is best for both of you, for children, for society, and for the glory of God.
Just a piece of paper? I seem to hear that a lot these days. Is that all marriage is? No. It's much bigger than that, and marriage-haters know it. If marriage is just a piece of paper, then why not just sign it? If the person you "love" is begging for it and it is extremely important to them, and it's no big deal to you, then why not just give it to them? I'll tell you why. It's because marriage is a huge deal.
Marriage means commitment, and marriage-haters are terrified of commitment. They aren't committed to anything but their own comfort and pleasure, but marriage is a commitment to someone else.
Marriage-haters don't want to get married because they want to leave their options open. "What if I get tired of her? What if things get too messy? What if I meet someone else?"
Marriage haters want to live an uncommitted life, but they don't want to be graded on it, and that's what divorce looks like. Divorce looks like a failing grade on your ability to be committed to something other than yourself.
Why get married? Because sex is sacred. It is a precious gift created solely for marriage. Outside of marriage, though, it is extremely destructive to self, others, and society. Don't want to get married? That's fine. But do society a favor and keep your hands to yourself.
Why get married? Because the person you are with is worth committing to. They deserve your faithfulness. They deserve your devotion. People are precious to God. They are worth committing to. And if you aren't willing to make a life-long commitment, then you don't deserve to be with anybody. If you can't commit to anyone other than yourself, then you don't deserve anybody but yourself.
If a man and woman want to live together in a sexual relationship, they need to get married. There's no place for shacking up, cohabitation, living together, or promiscuity. They need to make a life-long commitment of love and faithfulness to one another. If you aren't ready for commitment, then you aren't relationship material. That's what is best for both of you, for children, for society, and for the glory of God.
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