WHAT COMES WITH DATING???

"Unless a man is prepared to ask a woman to be his wife, what right has he to claim her exclusive attention? Unless she has been asked to marry him, why would a sensible woman promise any man her exclusive attention?"

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

BELOW ARE SEVEN DEFECTS IN "DATING"

• Dating leads to intimacy, but not necessarily commitment.
• Dating, shorten (or sometimes tends to skip) the friendship stage of a relationship.
• Dating mistakes a physical relationship for love.
• Dating isolates a couple from other vital relationships.
• Dating can cause discontentment with God's Gift of singleness.
• Dating creates an artificial environment for evaluating someone's character.

You can never be too lonely AND rushing into an intimate relationship is not the solution, here are some hints to avoid premature "dating" relationships.

• KNOW YOUR INTENTIONS OF PURSUING FRIENDSHIPS WITH PARTICULAR PEOPLE.
• THE KEY PRINCIPLE TO FRIENDSHIP IS ABOUT FOCUSING ON COMMON GOALS AND OBJECTS, RATHER THAN BEING INVOLVED INTIMATELY, OTHERWISE IT BECOMES MORE THAN FRIENDSHIP.
• INCLUDE OTHER PEOPLE ALSO INSTEAD OF ISOLATING YOURSELVES WITH JUST ONE PERSON (that can induce lustful thoughts, temptation then sin)
• SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THAN TO BE ENTERTAINED. (1 John 2:17 )

Philippians 4:8 "Finally brothers and sisters. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

IF YOU ARE SINGLE (or IN A MEANINGLESS DATING RELATIONSHIP) THINK ON THESE THINGS.

1. Ecclesiastes 11:9 "...be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. ...but know that for all things God will bring you into judgement."
2. Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--
3. While you are a man, or woman, and still single; seek God wholeheartedly (Hebrews 11:6) and put Jesus first in all things and everything else will fall into place you don't have to rush (Matthew 6:33)
4. Don't worry about impressing other people, especially the opposite sex; again I say don't worry. Strive to please and glorify God and along the way you will catch the attention of people with same priorities.
5. in Genesis 24, Rebekah was rightfully carrying her obligations and she had the willingness to serve others and her qualities put her in the right place, at the right time with the right attitude as God strategically positioned her for Isaac.
6. Holy Matrimony is and was never designed for "boys" and "girls" or lazy people (Its for a man and His Wife - Genesis 2: 24). It is a radical coarse of action intended for mature people who are prepared, and eager to surrender wholeheartedly their own will with submission to one another. 
7. As much as a model wears clothing to attract attention to the designer's creativity and work, the designer;s reputation is on the line, not the model. Such is God's perfect love, it is not only for our benefit but as servants (models) of Christ ( Galatians 1:10) people are watching us and what they see affects God's reputation for loving His creation.

Before you think of Marriage (let alone "dating" or "courting" or "betrothal") believe it is the will of God that you should marry, if that has not been revealed yet you have no business in marriage and if you have no relationship with Christ seek Him first. Marriage (or "dating" or "Courting" or "Betrothal") storms will come and if that relationship is not grounded in the perfect will of God, you will feel TRAPPED, GROW WEARY, AND 'WHAT IF I HAD "DATED" ANOTHER CHRISTIAN' THOUGHTD and a double minded man will not receive anything. (JAMES 1:7-8)

PRAYER:

"Lord, help me to appreciate this woman/man without elevating her/him above you in my heart. Help me to remember that nobody can ever take your place in my life. You are my strength, my hope, my joy, and my ultimate reward. Bring me back to reality, God. Give me an undivided heart."