We have talked about jealousy in dating relationships, and that was the main theme of episode 1177.

But we've never really talked about codependency in dating.

That theme is also important.

The question came in to us from a young man, no name was given.

Hello, Pastor John, thank you for the APJ podcast.

I have been in a relationship where my girlfriend has come to depend on me to what feels like

an unhealthy extent.

She spends less and less time with her friends, even less and less time with her family,

and increasingly relies on me as her soul relationship.

This does not seem healthy to me, is it, and what should I do?

Even though this young man doesn't say so, I'm going to assume that part of what is behind

this question is the prospect of marriage.

The concern that this woman's excessive dependence on him might bode ill for what she would

be like as a wife, as a partner for a lifetime.

Marriage is not an experiment.

It's a life-long covenant.

It is good that the traditional wedding vows contain the phrase, as long as we boats

shall live, or till death to us part.

That kind of promise is biblically rooted.

It's right.

We should promise that at our wedding service.

So every man and woman who contemplates such a life-long covenant should be looking

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