You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

-Malachi 2:14, NIV

Christian marriage is not a business deal.

It is a solemn covenant relationship that involves God as a party.

Some cheaters will abandon their spouses because they perceive their marriage is no longer a “good deal” for them. That is behavior born of pagan, worldly thinking.

What is also interesting about such behavior is how one-sided this thinking is!

If this was truly a business deal, then the cheater would be in trouble as they engaged in deceptive behaviors. Their activities happened without full consent of their spouse–aka business partner. This side is almost never explored by the cheater as their are an entitled bunch.

One thing I will never understand–thankfully–about cheaters who leave their spouses is how little they value their own integrity.

They made these solemn vows, promises. For someone who values keeping their promises, value exists in that alone. Yet we know cheaters have no problem violating their integrity for the sugar-high of ego-strokes.

Christian marriage is not about a “deal,” though. It is a covenant where God expects us to value integrity and keep those solemn vows before Him.