co habitation not marriage week 48, 2012

How long have you been married? Oh, for three years now. Thank you for coming sir. Three years now? My, you are mature in marriage. Where exactly did you wed? We do not seem to have the record in our register. Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way, not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don't know God 1Th 4:4, 5 (GW). I did it on my own sir; we didn’t go to church, she just moved in with me three years ago and we have been living faithfully together since. We’re as good as married; in short we are married. I didn’t want to bother you preachers. I see. Well the B part of the ABC seems in place, and I guess it can be commended, but why if I may ask do you assume you are married? Well sir it’s not like I kidnapped her, she came of her own will. Actually I wasn’t all that keen on settling down yet but it’s good to have a woman in the house. Yes indeed, a woman in the house... what of you people’s parents, do they know of your relationship? You mean our marriage. Hers are in Lagos, and my folks live in Abuja. Well sir they know we are adults and initially we had a few quarrels but everyone understands each other now and we communicate with each other. So they consent in a way. But what about God? The woman that had been married 5 times before and then living with another man was clearly told by Jesus she was not married to him. You have been married to five men, and the man you live with now is not really your husband. You have told me the truth Jn 4:18(GNB). What is my offense? I never maltreat her, she is happy; in fact God has blessed us with the fruit of the womb. Her parents also understand and have accepted it. Like I told you I have never slept with any other woman since she came into my home. I never beat her. What else does God want? What else makes a marriage? Young man who joins a man and a woman in marriage? 'Therefore 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." Mk 10:7-9(ESV). Is it the parents that join them? But the parents got them from God. May I say that it is the minister of the gospel that represents God in matters of this sort, so you must come before the minister of God and let God join you properly. Faithful cohabitation is no marriage.