THE SIN OF SHACKING UP
“The woman answered and said, “I have no husband...” (Joh.4:17). While passing through Samaria, Jesus and His apostles came to Jacob’s well. From there, Jesus sent His apostles to a near-by village to purchase some food while He stayed at the well. During this time a woman of Samaria came to the well to draw water. According to ancient eastern customs, drawing water was the woman’s job. This was done, for the most part, late in the evenings, although some women drew water early in the morning. The woman who came to Jacob’s well when Jesus was there, came during the noon hour according to John 4:6 - …It was about the sixth hour” (Joh.4:6). This was highly unusual. Likely, she came during this hour to avoid the stares and criticisms of the other women. Because of her promiscuous lifestyle, she likely was the talk of the town. When Jesus asked her to go and get her husband, she said, “I have no husband”. It was then that Jesus called to the woman’s attention, her improprieties – “…You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly” (Joh.4:17,18). This woman of Samaria would fit in nicely with today’s society in America. According to the experts, more than five million people co-habit in this nation without the benefits of marriage. While a good number of those who are shacking up together are young, an increasing number of older people are co-habiting without marriage also. Not many years ago it was the case that a mere “live-in” arrangement was rare. Even the stars in Hollywood kept such improprieties under the cloak of secrecy. Unfortunately, today celebrities mention their “live with” associations without blushing at all. Where is their shame? Such people just flaunt their immorality right under our nose with no shame whatsoever. Though more people are practicing co-habiting without marriage, it is still wrong, immoral, and sin. It is open rebellion against the sacred institution of marriage and against God, the institutor of marriage. Dear friend, are you like the Samaritan woman with a “live in”, instead of a husband or wife? God says to avoid immorality, “…let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” (1Cor.7:2). Please know that “…fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb.13:4).