Is Marriage Becoming a New Form of Business?
Times Life February 03, 2025 07:39 PM
Marriage, the eternal bond between man and woman, was once a sacred institution rooted in love, trust, and companionship. However, in the fast-paced modern world, it is increasingly resembling a business transaction rather than an emotional and spiritual connection. The shift is not just a perception but a reality visible in legal battles, social expectations, and financial motives that have infiltrated this once-divine relationship.

The Shift from Love to TransactionThere was a time when marriage meant finding someone to share your life with—someone to grow old with, to lean on during hard times, and to celebrate the good ones. It was about love, commitment, and sticking together no matter what. But these days, it feels like something has shifted. More and more, people are talking about marriage in terms of money, legal agreements, and financial security before they even say “I do.”

For many families, marriage isn’t just about love anymore. It’s about stability, status, and making the right connections. Instead of asking, “Do they make you happy?” the question is often, “Are they financially secure?” In some cases, it’s less about finding a soulmate and more about making a smart, strategic decision for the future.

Recent Events: A Reflection of Changing TimesLately, we’ve seen quite a few high-profile marital disputes that have made it clear—marriage is starting to look more like a business deal than a lifelong partnership. While no names need to be mentioned, some public cases have revealed just how much financial motives, legal battles, and hidden agendas can shape modern relationships.

Fights over alimony, property, and inheritance have become all too common, turning once-loving relationships into drawn-out legal battles. In some cases, people step into marriage hoping for more than just love—whether it’s financial stability, a better social standing, or even a pathway to citizenship. But when expectations don’t align with reality, things can quickly unravel, leaving behind disappointment, resentment, and, often, a messy breakup.

The Legal and Financial AngleMarriages face an increasing number of legal complications which result in the missing spirit of natural bonds through the addition of contractual terms. Trust-based marriages now exhibit an increase of guardedness alongside contractual agreements. Such protective laws allow their misuse to convert private relationships into courtroom disputes that enable legal battles to replace genuine comprehension.

The modern family strife involving alimony matters and domestic disputes and property distribution claims shows the same aggressive behavior as major commercial disputes. The rising notion that marriage should be treated as a transaction stimulates intense court struggles and deepens animosity between partners despite the purpose of legal safeguards being to protect fairness. An increasing number of relationships do not try to resolve conflicts through respectful dialogue first but opt to start legal proceedings before attempted resolution.


Materialism Over Emotions: A Growing Concern Materialistic values represent a vital factor in making marriages become more transactional in nature. The rise of social media platforms coupled with inflated social expectations through peer pressure causes individuals to hunt for financially secure spouses instead of emotionally reliable ones.

Grand extravagant wedding ceremonies have taken precedence over the essential union while serving as evidence for this materialistic trend within the wedding industry. People evaluate marriages according to their wedding size and expenses without paying attention to the quality of the partnership. Excessive focus on material wealth affects the importance of emotional bonds among people while dismissing their essential values of friendship and shared respect and love.

Impact on Trust and RelationshipsMarriage transactions have eroded trust between partners. The presence of pre-marital distrust and backup arrangements among newlyweds proves their minimal faith in marriage as an institution.

The essence of loving relationships that should sustain marriage has been displaced by strategic assessments of gains and losses. People refrain from emotional bonding because they doubt their partners will break their trust or misuse their money. The intertwining financial interests together with legal documentation causes true friendship to disappear in many marriages.

The Long-Term Consequences Running this course will gradually break down the core structure of mutual bonds between people. Marriage will transform into a transactional system because partners will focus on advantages instead of emotional connections and desire for togetherness. Children who result from these marriages tend to develop negative relationship perceptions because they grow up in stressful emotional homes.

The number of divorces that occurs because of financial and legal disputes shows that transactional marriages do not last. Any relationship built on material aims instead of emotional connections will eventually experience collapse.

Restoring the Sacredness of MarriageDespite these concerning trends, marriage can still be revived as a divine relationship. To do so, we must:

  • Prioritize Emotional Compatibility: Choosing a partner should be about emotional connection rather than financial gains or social status.
  • Encourage Open Communication: Transparency and understanding should be the foundation of a strong relationship.
  • Shift Focus from Materialism to Love: Simplifying weddings and focusing on the essence of companionship can help restore the sanctity of marriage.
  • Reinforce Family Values: Families play a crucial role in shaping marriage perspectives. Parents should emphasize emotional bonds rather than financial advantages.
  • Balance Legal Protection with Emotional Trust: While laws are necessary, they should not replace genuine understanding and mutual respect in a marriage.
A Call for Change Marriage remains above the level of transactions between business entities. Marriage functions as a sacred journey based in companionate love and joint personal development that also includes limitless affection. The financial and legal issues that need attention in marriage cannot replace the essential emotional bond that ties people together.

The core meaning of marriage needs serious evaluation by contemporary society. The time has come for building trust while putting love ahead of transactions because this creates genuine relationships. The divine nature of marriage will be restored when relationships become based on hearts rather than contractual benefits.

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