If there is one common topic that is being discussed in relationships and marriages in our world today, it is that of prenuptial agreements.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, "Prenuptial agreement is an agreement made by a couple before they marry concerning the ownership of their respective assets should the marriage fail."
Many people see this agreement as a necessary legal precaution to safeguard their assets, while others, including myself believe that such thing weakens the foundation of trust between partners. Personally, I do not go by the idea that prenuptial agreement should be signed before marriage because my view on marriage is that of a lifelong commitment (till death do us part) and not one that should begin with the assumption that it might fail or collapse.
I view marriage as something that is more than just a legal contract, but a covenant. It is a sacred bond that is built on love, trust and faith. I strongly believe that marriage is designed by God where two individuals are joined together to become one which means sharing everything together, be it the joys, struggles and responsibilities in marriage.
When a couple starts their union on the assumption of a possible divorce and preparing for it, this suggests that they are already considering the possibility of separation which goes against my belief and personal values. Instead of focusing on what would happen in case things go wrong, I'd rather choose to focus on making things work together for us, making sure that our marriage is still standing strong on love, trust, understanding and faith.
Let's take a popular example of a prenuptial agreement causing tension in relationships. The relationship between Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and his ex-wife, Mackenzie Scott. When they got married in 1993, they never thought of having prenuptial agreements or having the idea of one in case anything goes wrong. Years later, they got divorced in 2019 and Scott took away a significant portion of Jeff's wealth becoming one of the richest women in the world.
I think this was where the idea of prenups came about and how it should be a standard part of marriage. Some people argued that perhaps if prenuptial agreements had been put in place before they got married, Jeff could have been saved from such financial loss. However, others believe that marriage should not be built on the assumption that they might get divorced or separated or even having it in mind, but love, commitment and partnership should come first.
For me, I wouldn't sign into a marriage where its foundation is built on having a backup plan in case anything happens. I want a marriage solely built on God's foundation that no matter what happens, love, patience, trust and mutual respect will hold everything together.
While I understand why some people would go for signing prenuptial agreements, I would never consider it because I do not intend to prepare for a divorce even before I have started my marriage. Instead, my aim would be to focus on nurturing a strong, lasting relationship — one that God will be in the center, standing the test of time, not just in paper, but in reality.
In the end, everyone to their thoughts as I understand that when it comes to marriage and financial security, perspectives differ. But my belief is simple: love, trust and a commitment to ensure that marriage work through challenges by coming together should be enough to sustain it and not think of such agreements.
If I'm entering a marriage with the person I sincerely love, then I would rather invest my energy in building a strong relationship that is centered on God and not think of setting up financial security for a possible separation.
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