Marriage is a beautiful institution established by God. God Himself conducted the first marriage ceremony in the Garden of Eden. A beautiful union between a man, Adam and a woman, Eve.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 ESV
Families are the foundation of our community. So the community will always be a reflection of love and marriage in the family.
We are created by God to want to love and feel loved. A good foundation and understanding of true love will prevent several years of heartache and disappointments in the future. Marriage is a beautiful thing just like life itself but it comes with its own challenges and opportunities. It is more fruitful and fulfilling when it involves two loving people who have a good understanding of who they are and what God has in store for them.
Marriage is the union of two people (perfectly imperfect people) who choose to love each other, live together and bring out the best in each other and the world they live.
Love is the foundation of any relationship. Its especially unique and deeper when it comes to marriage. So its important that both parties involved have a good foundation of friendship. A friendship that is unselfish and grows with time. A friendship that hopes to bring out the best in you.
This is where dating and courtship comes in. Dating is a more casual relationship where you are getting to know each other. There is no commitment on either side just a friendship with possibilities. With courtship, there is a commitment. Both of you are getting to know each other and looking forward to spending the rest of your life together.
Dating can help you develop your personality and social interaction and help you in the choice of a partner in the future. However you have to be careful to set good standards . Be careful – you don’t get in to sin. Be respectful of each other so there is no animosities when things change. Don’t create artificial relationship and avoid physical intimacy. Don’t be involved in anything you are likely to regret in the future.
The same applies to courtship. Courtship is a relationship with a long term purpose in mind on both sides. Have boundaries and respect them. Respect and honor your parents and family. Don’t forget your friends also because you will always need them.
Set a standard for yourself even before you start dating. Take time to research and understand your values, write them down and pray for God’s help to keep to them.
In your choice of a partner remember the following, your partner in the future will also be –
- The leader for your home (Man) Co-pilot (Woman)
- A father/mother to your children
- A son/daughter to your parents
- A teacher and example for your children to follow
- A friend and confidant
- A co-laborer with you in God’s beautiful garden
- A friend and a partner
- Ask yourself if you ready to live with your decision for several decades even if nothing changes about the person.
Your choice is very important for your success in life but also you are choosing for your children, parents, siblings and the community. Your choice has a lot of implications. So it is important to pray and choose wisely. Don’t be in a hurry. Better to wait than to mess things up and try to fix it. Mistakes can be corrected but life is much better without them.
Resources For Further Reading
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
