The New Testament does not instruct Christians to pay a bride price (lobola). However, Romans 12:18 teaches, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." If the bride's family requests a lobola, and it is a custom in your country to do so, then it would be wise to give some gift. It is always better to establish a peaceful, harmonious relationship between the bride's family, the bride, the groom, and the groom's family. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. It's good to be at peace at the beginning of such a commitment.
Yet, sometimes a lobola may be very costly and impossible to pay. If this is the situation, it would be wise to ask your minister to talk to both parties together and to reach a compromise lobola. Love should always reign in any relationship. Remember to "speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church," Ephesians 4:15 (NLT).
