During a recent broadcast of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, listeners shared varied perspectives about Pastor Mensa Otabil’s advice to young people about marriage.

The pastor, known for his thought-provoking sermons, recently shared personal anecdotes to encourage young people not to delay marriage due to financial constraints, declaring 'Be bold and marry'.

In his sermon, Pastor Otabil recounted his humble beginnings, saying, “When I was getting married, my wife will tell you, and I didn’t have any fame, no bed, chair, cutlery, or plates. Our first furniture was benches discarded from the church, which I painted white. We prayed together, believed together, and slowly moved from benches to better things. If you’re waiting to get rich before marrying, your head isn’t working. You don’t want to marry, but you’re still sleeping together.”

This message resonated with many listeners, who called into the show to share their thoughts.

Isaac from Legon questioned why people focus more on the wedding than the marriage itself. “The real marriage is what you do with the family by paying the bride price. The church blessing is important, but sometimes we make it too extravagant, which costs us dearly. Parents should also be mindful not to make traditional marriages financially unbearable for young men. Investing in the future is more important than spending all your money on the wedding.”

Another caller from Sukura in Accra emphasized that marriage is about taking risks. “The risks we take in marriage determine its strength. It’s not all about money; what matters is having a stable job that can support the household. Marriage isn’t just about material possessions. It’s about the happiness and stability both partners bring into the home.”

A caller from Koforidua shared his experience of getting married with little money. “I took my marriage to the church for blessing, but I didn’t have much. We need to advise the youth not to spend all their money on weddings because life continues after the ceremony.”

Emmanuel from Taifa, also in Accra, highlighted the importance of a man having a place of abode before marriage. “No matter how wealthy a man is, if he’s still living with his parents, that’s a red flag. Pastor Otabil’s story shows that it’s not about having luxurious furniture but having your own home, even if it’s modest. Maturity in marriage isn’t about age but how you handle responsibilities.”

Michael from Dansoman in Accra reflected on the deeper meaning of marriage. “Marriage is essential because it completes a person. Civilization has complicated things, but Pastor Otabil’s message is true. In the past, a simple ceremony with a bottle of schnapps was enough for marriage. Nowadays, things are more complicated, but the essence remains the same.”

Another caller from Kokomlemle in Accra also recounted attending a simple yet meaningful wedding. “The groom had the means for an extravagant wedding but chose a modest one. They went to their pastor’s house with a few family members, received the blessing, and that was it. The next day, the pastor announced them to the congregation, which shocked everyone because they knew the groom had money. It was a powerful statement against unnecessary extravagance.”

Juana from Dansoman stressed that marriage is not for the faint-hearted. “Marriage is a tough journey, and not everyone is cut out for it. Some people enter marriage without bringing any positive transformation, whether they’re male or female. Pastor Otabil is right; it’s important to choose wisely.”

Another caller agreed that one must be ready before getting married. “As Pastor Otabil said, if you’ve completed university and worked for a few years, what are you waiting for? You don’t need to have everything figured out, but you should be prepared.”

Odame from Kumasi lamented the influence of Western culture on Ghanaian weddings. “We’ve lost touch with our roots. The white wedding is a Western tradition, not ours. Our true marriage ceremony is the traditional one, done in the woman’s house. The church wedding is borrowed from Western culture. We need to focus on the vows and the exchange of rings, not on replicating foreign customs.”

Read also : Be bold and marry, don’t wait to be rich – Mensa Otabil