Title: Courtship
Scripture: He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord. Proverb 18:22
Dating, followed by courtship, is supposed to lead to a happy marriage. But marriage cannot be happy if it is not built on the right FOUNDATION. Most couples have no idea that the foundation of a successful marriage begins long before the wedding day. In addition, a direct by-product of the wrong foundation is that most people have no idea how to select the right mate. I offer five areas of important consideration
1. Parental consent – Why? Because the Bible promises that it will be. “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:2-3
2. Compatibility of faith and life – The saying “opposites attract” might happen sometimes, but is that really a good thing? The Bible says not to be unequally yoked. ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
3. Is it genuine love – The old saying, “Good things come to those who wait” still rings true. If something is worth having, it’s worth waiting for. Jacob served Laban a total of 14 years so that he might take Rachel to be his wife. Bill Gothard says, “One of the most powerful evidences of genuine love is its ability to overcome the limitations of time.”
4. Mature Character – “Character is not made in a crisis, it is only then displayed.” In marriage, you’ll have plenty of crisis’ that will reveal your character and your spouse’s character. The responsibility of work, maintaining a home, raising a family, being involved at church, relating to drama in extended family, making financial deadlines, etc will put pressure on you and your spouse. These pressures will either be something that will bond you together or tear you apart depending on your responses to them.
5. Financial Responsibility – If you want to know who a person really is, check out their financial history. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21. The way you spend your money reveals what your heart is set on. We are stewards of God’s resources.
Prayer Points
- Father help me choose my marital partner wisely
- Father open my eyes to rhe flaws in my life
- Father heal every emotional hurt that exist in me that has stopped me from taking the bold step of marriage
