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Taking a test drive before you buy a car. Good move. Trying on a pair of pants to make sure they fit. Yep. Checking out a home before taking on the mortgage, who wouldn’t do that? Even when you order online, you try things out and try things on. So why not live together before marriage?

Today over 50% of couples getting married for the first time will live together before saying, “I do.” My purpose in this week’s devos is to show why living together before marriage is not a part of God’s design. I pray that this information will provide understanding to help you make godly decisions and give godly counsel.

Let’s return to the premier verse on marriage.

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

There are three primary reasons why couples choose to live together.

• Compatibility. Everything in life has a built-in “practice time,” right? Drivers start with a learner’s permit. Doctors begin as interns. Teachers have time as “practice” or “student” teachers. Shouldn’t couples make sure they are compatible before taking their vows?

• Convenience. Some couples choose to live together for economic and practical convenience. Paying for one place is cheaper than paying for two. And every night, there is a ready and willing sexual partner.

• Scarred and Scared. The high rate of divorce has many couples running scared. Too many kids have lived through the hellish experience of their parents’ divorce. They don’t want to go through that personally, nor do they want to drag their children through a breakup.

While these reasons sound sensible and practical from a human perspective, they fail to accomplish their purpose. Hang with me this week. Tomorrow we’ll consider three “cohabitating statistics.” From these, you will see that living together doesn’t work.

Father, forgive us for exchanging your design for our desires. Help us follow your instructions for marriage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.