What’s Wrong With Living Together Before Marriage?

DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

“Therefor a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” – Mark 10:7-9

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

This prevalent question comes up often with believers and non-believers. I asked that same question years ago but I was not fortunate enough then to have anyone in my life to direct me to the right place to discover the answer. Many inexperienced Believers will try to answer this question on their own, and it is a difficult question to answer if you are not spiritually astute. People will say to justify the choice to live together, that God forgives all sin. Yes, that is true but you have to ask yourself “How far is too far?” When does sin actually become sin?

I recall when my husband and me was “shacking – up”, nothing went right for us. It seemed as though everything we touched or tried to create in this unbiblical union such as our catering business, would not blossom. No matter how much we went to church and tithed we still did not get anywhere, or receive the fullness of the blessings that God had for us. We were two single people living a married couple life and it was not a “perfect union.” I, like many others, thought living together was fine because I am thinking we are just living together, but we were also having sexual intercourse. The Word asks, “Do you not know that your body is a member of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 6:15) So in addition to outward sinfulness, I was committing a spiritual  sin, a sin against my own body which is part of Christ’ body. This makes sex outside of marriage destructive and I found this out firsthand when my now husband, then boyfriend were living together before marriage. And after many tumultuous situations, it became so clear to me that I had to follow God’s plan for covenant relationships and sex.

When one decides to “shack-up” you are opening the door for temptation between you and your boo. If you have kids you are also in danger of leading them down a similar path, because we must remember our kids watch everything we do. They look to us so we must be careful who and what we allow in their presence and what they witness.

So what’s wrong with living together before marriage? I can give you so many reasons why its not God’s plan for your abundant life.

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

“Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Lord, many have sinned through sex addiction and sexual sin in many ways. I ask for your forgiveness, cleansing, guidance, strength, protection and healing for every step along this journey.  Father, please create in us a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within us.  Do not cast us away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from us.  Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us by Your Generous Spirit.  We commit ourselves to serving you from this point on in our lives, and ask that you will accomplish Your Will in our life and not our own. You are our King and we are Your servants.  O Lord, open our lips, and our mouth to show forth Your praise.  Teach us Your ways, that we may walk in them for the rest of our life.  Thank You, Father.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” 

ENTER INTO WORSHIP

Watch: “Kirk Franklin – Give Me (ft. Mali Music)”

Contributed by: Norell Porter

Norell raised in Ft. Lauderdale, is now a resident of Georgia. She is a dedicated wife, the dutiful mother of four children, and a successful entrepreneur of Family First Coding Specialist. She is a covenant partner of The Sanctuary and is our Minister of Giving. She is ambitious outgoing, and she takes great pleasure in giving and helping others succeed in life. If this devotional has fed your soul, please share with your friends and family. Click the social share button or leave a comment in the box below. for Norell .