If you hear wedding bells, the Census says you're in the minority. For the first time in history, the number of unmarried people (aged 24-34) is actually higher than the number of couples who have tied the knot. According to the 2009 figures, marriage rates have hit an all-time low. Most experts blame the recession. The data seems to indicate that several people are postponing marriage while they hunt for jobs, which is understandable. Unfortunately, it has led to a boom in another trend: people saying "I do" to shacking up. In just one year, the number of cohabiting couples has spiked by 13%--one of, if not the, biggest leaps in a single-year span.

While it may help pay the bills in the short-term, the cohabiting frenzy may do more harm to the economy than good. Marriage happens to be one of the best things Americans can do for the economy! It helps couples build more wealth, reduces poverty levels for women and children, benefits minorities, and gives men an edge in take-home earnings. And those are just the financial reasons. Studies show that live-ins are more likely to: be unhappy, divorce, cheat, feel depressed, get abused--and in the end, they're less likely to marry each other! Cheryl Wetzstein of the Washington Times worries that too many people have a "don't worry, be happy" attitude about moving in together--"similar to what was written about no-fault divorce in the 70s. [And] we all know how well that's worked out," she writes. (Author Unknown)

Heb. 13:4, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous."

A Mississippi State University researcher has found that of the 16,000 first graders that he studied, those kids with strong religious homes were better behaved and happier than their peers. The study identified youngsters who had both parents attending worship services regularly and who talked to their kids regularly about religion as having strong religious homes. The study is reported on the web at https://www.christianpost.com/news/study-highly-religious-parents-have-better-behaved-kids.html. 

Isn’t this is what the Bible has been saying all along?

(Pro. 22:6, 22:15; 23:13; 29:15,  and Eph. 6:4)

Daily Devotional
by Max Patterson

For a long time there have been individuals who championed the idea that if a man and woman would live together before they get married, it would allow them to know whether they are compatible for marriage. Many people have bought into this idea. We know that many households are made up of unmarried couples. But, alas, all is not well in such situations. Consider the following:

1. A woman who lives with a man before marriage is more than two times as likely to be a victim of domestic violence (Washington State University researcher, Jon Stets).

2. Women who live with men outside of marriage suffer depression more than three times that of married women (National Institute of Mental Health).

3. Those men and women who live together and then get married report less satisfaction in marriage than other couples (National Institute for Health Care Research).

4. Couples who live together and then get married have a significantly higher divorce rate than those who did not live together first (University of Denver researcher, Scott Stanley).

Are you surprised at the above? I am not surprised at all. There is no way that man has found that is better than God's way. The research given above seriously challenges any values of living together before marriage.

Further in the work, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, University of Washington researcher John Gottman makes the argument that many couples who live together do so because they are already suspect that more permanent commitments are doomed to failure, and they simply fulfill their own expectations. Whatever the reasons are, it is plain that God's way is best. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:24).

Tonk Talk

There once was a young boy who was playing by the seashore. While playing he came across some seashells. He started playing with the shells when to his surprise a white, smooth, round, stone fell out of one of the shells. He began playing with it when he decided to see how far he could throw this white stone. As the white stone was in midflight, the little boy realized the true identity of the stone; it was a precious pearl. At that instant he yelled for his family to come and help him find this pearl that had landed in the water. As the family searched the water, they could not find the pearl. It was gone forever (Author unknown).

This story reminds me of how many people today treat the marriage covenant between a husband and wife. Many enter marriage not realizing the value of this precious institution and end up throwing it away. Hebrews 13:4 states, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” This verse tells us that marriage is an honorable thing before God and should be honored by human beings as well. The Bible tells us that marriage is honorable for at least six reasons. First, marriage provides companionship for man and woman, Genesis 2:18. Second, marriage helps a man and woman to be self-controlled, Hebrews 13:4. Third, marriage completes a man and woman, Genesis 2:23. Fourth, marriage between a husband and his wife is the best environment for raising children, Genesis 1:28, 9:1 and Malachi 2:15. Fifth, marriage provides protection for the family, Ephesians 5:25, Titus 2:4-5 and Malachi 2:15. Sixth, marriage is a visual object lesson of the relationship between Christ and his church, Ephesians 5:31-33 and Revelation 21:2.

Are you honoring your marriage?