Pastor's Corner
During the spring of 2006 I taught a History of Marriage in Adult Education. We learned that marriage has evolved over the years. One such example was marrying for love is a relatively new idea. Marriages were once arranged or part of a transaction between two parties that may have had nothing directly to do with the couple about to be married. Simply put, marriage is evolving.
Life Innovations, a group which is dedicated to the preparation and enrichment of marriage, recently circulated the following information which shows how marriage is evolving. I share this information with you, for better or worse.
Of the 2.3 million marriages in 2006, about half (53%) take place in a religious setting.
The average cost of a wedding is $27,500. Married households are barely above 50%.
Of the United States 111 million households, 52% are now made up of married couples with and without children.
25th Wedding Anniversaries are becoming more rare.
There is less than a 50% change that couples currently married will reach the 25th anniversary.
The divorce rate continues at about 50%. While the average divorce rate is 50%, it is 40% for first marriages, 60% for second marriages and 73% for third marriages.
The seven-year itch continues. Couples separate on the average seven years after marriage and divorce after eight.
Over 90% of people get married once. But those who marry are waiting until they are older, and they are less likely to remarry following a divorce.
The rate of cohabitation has escalated. Over 6 million couples now cohabit, a dramatic increase from only 500,000 cohabiting couples in 1970.
A few months ago we had no weddings planned for 2008. Now there are five weddings scheduled for 2008 and one for 2009. People are still getting married but more frequently it is not in the way we either once knew or once saw marriage portrayed.
A loving commitment of two people is not for the weak. In addition to love, it takes determination and commitment.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, God and Israel are considered a couple, united in a covenant commitment. God always remained faithful to Israel. Over and over again Israel turned to other gods, betraying the God of Israel in her commitment.
What about you? What kind of commitment have you made to your spouse? What kind of commitment have you made to your God? A life of loving faithfulness is not for the weak. Again, it takes love, determination and commitment.
As a new year begins, consider your faithfulness to God, and if you
have a spouse, consider your faithfulness to the one you love.
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