In the wisdom and plan of Almighty God the marriage relationship between man and woman was provided. After God had created the earth and prepared it in every way to be suitable to man, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). It seems that this was the one lack in Adam's life, namely, a woman who could be his companion, receive his love, and share his dominion over the earth. So God created the woman and presented her to Adam. The first marriage was God's doing. Marriage was not a human idea but a divine institution.   Marriage is really a divine institution ordained by God.  It is in obedience to the biblical injunction that states that “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and stick to his wife and both shall become one”.  This presupposes that a man by implication is meant for a woman and vice versa.  (I stand to be corrected).

Religion today is being practised in many diverse ways.  There are the Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists, Free Thinkers and host of others.  The Christian religion largely supports one man one woman doctrine (monogamy).  The Muslim religion supports one man many women (not sure of the number) doctrine (polygamy).  While the Traditionalists are a function of the practice of a particular locality.  There are quite a number of religious beliefs.  However, for the purpose of this hub, emphasis is on the possible reasons why a man would marry more than one woman at a time.  This priviledge, to the best of my knowledge, is not extended to the women by allowing a  woman to marry more than one man at a time (polyandry).

These practices could be religious or customary, however the following could be the possible reasons why people engage in these activities:

1.      When the Thrill is Gone -  Men are humans and are moved by what they see.  It is a chemical reaction.  If the things that the man used  to see in his wife and get thrilled are no more there, he looks for it somewhere else.  In the process, he might get hooked up and a new and additional wife may emerge.  Wives should learn to be irresistible to their husbands.  Don’t on account of age stop those things that made you most wanted and irresistible woman to your husband.  

2.      Religious Belief – Religion plays an important role in a man’s life.  It affects the mode of behaviour and the way he does things.  Different religion supports polygamous marriage while others support monogamous marriage.

3.      Customs and Tradition – People’s custom and tradition affects what they do.  A man may marry more than one woman at a time, not because he is deriving joy but because he is dancing to the tune of the custom and tradition which he finds himself.

4.      Family Inheritance.  There is the belief that because the older generation practised it, it is part of the family.  It becomes part of the family.  A situation where one’s father and grand father practise polygamy, it becomes their birth right to do so.  It would be seen as an abnormality if one does not follow the same step.

5.      Avoid Infidelity – Cheating is so common in marriages.  To avoid a situation where a man would be involved in extra-marital affairs, they could resort to having additional woman/women.  This way, they are not tempted by the women outside.

6.      A man that catches the wife in the act may out of annoyance decide not to seek for divorce but rather to get married to additional woman.  Where a man discovers or suspects that his wife flirts around, he might be pushed to get additional woman while the present wife remains the home also.  It has been observed that the society large, though not supporting immorality, frowns more when a woman is involved than when a man is involved.  While the society generally frowns less when a man is caught cheating on his wife, he is asked to go  and sin no more; his kinsmen defends him publicly with possible reasons why he could have taken the option of sleeping with another woman.  The woman may even be blamed for frustrating the man to the extent of seeking help outside.  On the other hand, the woman is not that lucky; the society condemns her infidelity with severe punishment, ridiculed and recommended to sent back to her parents.

7.      Love and Care – In as much as the women love to be loved, cared and pampered, the men being humans also needs love and care.  If a man is not getting the much desired love and care from his wife, he looks for a woman/women somewhere that can give him what he desires.

8.      Insatiable Sex Drive – Some men have high sex drive. If a man with an insatiable drive for sex gets married to a woman that cannot meet up with his regular demand for sex, he seeks for additional woman or women to fill the gap.

9.      Display of Ego – So many men who are wealthy tend to display their ego by marrying more women.  Sometimes, they replace their wives with younger ones. The older ones are not however thrown out of the house, they still remain in the house but the younger one performs and supplies most of the man’s sexual, domestic, and social needs.

10.  Loneliness – Most women are so engrossed with their work and business activities  and pay less attention to their husbands and home.  They forget that the man needs care and attention at home just as the woman.  Men needs to be treated like children as well.  An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.  Any woman that comes into the life of the man during this trying time, would be adjudged a better woman and given the opportunity to perform.

11.  Nagging – No man feels comfortable staying with a nagging wife.  If a man finds himself in the hands of a nagging wife, he may devise other means of making himself happy such as keeping late night, drinking, smoking, womanizing and so many other bad habits.  In the process, any woman that opens her hand of fellowship definitely wins the mans hearth.

12.  Finance – Money or rather the love of money they say is the root of all evil.  Money plays an important role in a man’s life.  It is a 2-edged sword that must be handled with care.  A man could get married to an additional woman just because he feels that he has arrived financially.  A man could also get married to an additional woman just because he is not financially balanced and he finds another woman that is rich and willing to get married to him so as to fill the financial gap.