Editor's Note: Pastor Roger Barrier's "Ask Roger" column regularly appears at Preach It, Teach It. Every week at Crosswalk, Dr. Barrier puts nearly 40 years of experience in the pastorate to work answering questions of doctrine or practice for laypeople, or giving advice on church leadership issues. Roger will respond in as timely a manner as possible. Due to the large volume of questions, patience is requested. When questions involve mental health issues, no part of any response to an “Ask Roger” question should be interpreted as a substitute for seeking professional counseling from a licensed mental health professional. Email him your questions at roger@preachitteachit.org.
Dear Roger,
I have been through a bad divorce, and have no way to earn back my assets now at 64. Is it wrong to ask for a prenuptial agreement?
– Donita
Dear Donita,
I grieve that you are 64 years old and have lost everything. I imagine that the upcoming retirement years look scary to you. I’m so sorry. A prenuptial agreement may well have protected you from losing all of your money.
As you know, a marriage is a contract between two people. It’s all right to come to mutual agreement regarding its terms before getting married.
Many marriages do succeed and last for a lifetime. Loving and committed people need no prenuptial agreement. But of course, we never know till later whether or not their love and commitment will stand the test of time.
Some people feel that asking for a prenuptial agreement means that you’re not fully in love and committed to your soon to be husband or wife. I don’t believe that’s necessarily true.
Others say that the prenuptial agreement takes all the romance out of the relationship. I guess that depends on the couple.
In fact, consider that it may be one of the wisest decisions you’ll ever make.
Let’s consider several reasons why it’s good to make a prenuptial agreement:
A prenuptial agreement can protect the future inheritance of your children.
Proverb 13:22 says, A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.
One of the saddest things I ever saw was a 66-year-old widower with four adult children. Less than one year after his wife died, he remarried. Several children never even met the new wife. Two years later he died. His new wife got all the money. His children got nothing.
Had he signed a prenuptial agreement he could’ve ensured that his children received their just inheritance.
He could have left some to his new wife with the bulk of his money going to his children.
He might even have had enough to give to his grandchildren!
2 Corinthians 12:14 says, After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
According to the Bible it is incumbent upon us to handle our money well. Refusing to sign a prenuptial agreement may one day “tie our hands” and we may find that our money is no longer in our control and instead being used by people in ways that we never intended.
A fool and his money are soon parted.– Thomas Tusser
Proverb 27:23-24 says, Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever.
We don’t traffic in flocks and herds today. If he were writing today Solomon would not say, “flocks and herds,” he’d talk about money, stocks, and investments.
The point is that we are to know our resources and protect them carefully because they won’t last forever.
You have been through a miserable divorce and apparently have lost your resources during the proceedings. Don’t ever let that happen to you again.
Proverb 30:25 says, Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.
We are often told to put some savings for retirement aside from every paycheck. It breaks my heart when I see people withdraw money from their retirement accounts to use for some present needs. They never catch up financially.
It is unwise to put your retirement funds at risk by failing to secure a prenuptial agreement.
It should. That’s God’s design. But who are we kidding here? From my research, about 50% of all first marriages end in divorce. The failure rate for second marriages approaches 78%. I suppose these statistics explain why so many younger and senior couples are eschewing marriage for cohabiting. What a shame!
Don’t misunderstand me; a prenuptial agreement does not preclude the sharing of basic living expenses like the cost of food and rent, entertainment, furniture, vacations, etc.
It’s quite all right to keep money in a joint checking account.
Of course, there are times when disaster, loss of job, sickness, hurting children, and so forth demand that we use every last dollar for the sake of our spouse.
God’s intention is one man and one woman for a lifetime “sharing everything” (Genesis 2:18).
It is a matter of prayer between you and God and your spouse-to-be. But when it comes to protecting your money for your future needs, or for your heirs, a prenuptial agreement takes out much of the risk and still allows you to control your hard-earned resources.
Well, Donita, I hope some of these thoughts are helpful to you as you think about your future plan for the present.
Love, Roger
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