One of the unfortunate practises in India, even among Christians, is for a boy’s father to ask for a dowry from the girl’s father before a marriage is finalised. This has reduced marriage to a business transaction. Among Hindus, such a practice is understandable because it has been long standing in India’s culture, which allows for covetousness to rule many lives. But how do we respond when many Christians also indulge in this practice?
Many marriage arrangements fail because the parents of the girl can simply not meet the exorbitant demand for dowry made by the parents of the boy.
Many girls in India have been emotionally disturbed and brought to utter despair because of this practise – and some have even committed suicide. Too often throughout India, some wife somewhere burns herself to death because of her husband harassing her to get more dowry from her father.
God will one day hold accountable all those who have made marriage a matter of striking a financial deal, and this will begin with those who profess they love and follow the one true living God.
We are praying for each of our Little Sisters that God will provide them with a husband who will not want a dowry and we’re teaching boys that they should never ask for, or receive a dowry. Some boys hide under the excuse that it is their parents who ask for dowry and not they themselves. What if they learned to speak up and inform their parents that they don’t want any dowry?
Though it may seem early for the girls and boys who live at the Victory Home and the Mercy Home, it is never too early to ask God to prepare a future spouse who is free from the constraints of a dowry – seeking only the spiritual riches that are ours in Christ.
