I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage.  Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I am writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.

Michael Foust wrote an excellent article, “‘Living together‘ before marriage a statistical risk  ,” March 26, 2008, Baptist Press, and I wanted share portions of that article with you the next few days.  Here is the first portion: 

Does living together before marriage increase the chances for a successful marriage? The answer may surprise some.Between 50 and 60 percent of all marriages begin with the two partners cohabitating, and many of those couples no doubt believe they are making a wise move up front. But living together before marriage actually increases the chances of divorce in a first marriage — 67 percent of cohabitating couples who marry eventually divorce, compared to 45 percent of all first marriages.That and other myth-busting facts form the core of a new book by Mike and Harriet McManus, “Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers” (Howard Books), with a foreword by Chuck Colson. Co-founders of the organization Marriage Savers, the couple have invested much of their lives trying to help strengthen marriages and push down the divorce rate. 

The biblical warnings against cohabitation, the book says, are affirmed by statistics showing it’s a bad idea. 

“Men and woman cohabitate for different reasons,” Mike McManus said in a conference call discussing the book. “Women see it as a step toward marriage. They think they can audition for this job. Men do it because they like to have the ready availability of sex and having someone share their living expenses. Women should heed their mother’s advice — if you give away the milk, he won’t buy the cow.”

 

 

Brad and Amy share their experiences at the Family Life Weekend to Remember conference.

Tim Hawkins-My favorite Bible verse

(1/5) Adrian Rogers – No Other Way to Heaven Except Through Jesus