Dating, Waiting and Reflecting God

Today's Daily Bread is an excellent reminder about why it is important for Christians (who are single and dating) to only date other Christians.

 

Frank always says, "show me your friends and I'll show you who you are."  I'll leapfrog on that statement to add, show me who you are dating or interested in and I'll see a snapshot of your spiritual life.  If you are hotly pursuing God, you will want to date or be interested in another who is hotly pursuing God.  If you are "not that into God or church right now," then you will date or pursue someone who also is not that into God or church right now.

 

I believe it would be a valid statement to say our friends, people we pursue and date are mirror reflections of what is going on in our heart.   And, those we choose to hang around or date affect the direction we take in our lives either toward God or away from Him.

 

I know it is extremely hard to find anyone who is interested in God or spiritual things.  I would ask you to take a long look at your heart's desire and trust God to bring the right person into your life.  Liking a boy or girl "because they are cute" or "because they make me laugh…feel good…etc." are not good springboards from which to launch a relationship.  And yet, sadly, many of you do just that.  In fact, when you are interested in another, finding out if they are a Christian isn't a priority on your list of qualities you are looking for in a person to date.

 

Recently, I had lunch with a young lady who revealed she had feelings for someone.  The most exciting thing (for me) she said was, "every time we talk on the phone we ask each other how we are doing in our relationship with God."  They encourage each other to read their Bibles, pray and attend church.

 

Who you befriend, hang out with or date will either push you toward God or away from Him.  Dwell on that this week as you hang out with your friends, flirt with that special someone or are out on a date.  If God is a priority in your life, do your choices in friends and whom you date reflect that?  Why or why not?

 

Here's the Daily Bread….

 

August 26, 2009

The Importance of Theology

READ: 1 Kings 11:4-13

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. —2 Corinthians 6:14

 

When looking for a new car, potential buyers look at more than the exterior styling. They check out the inner workings that make it run smoothly and efficiently.

 

When choosing a spouse, however, some are not so careful. They discover too late that a beautiful body is camouflaging a defective mind and soul. Men and women both make this mistake, but author Carolyn Custis James was specifically concerned about men when she wrote: "[A] woman's interest in theology ought to be the first thing to catch a man's eye. . . . [Her] theology suddenly matters when a man is facing a crisis and she is the only one around to offer encouragement."

 

Solomon should have known this. He was, after all, the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 3:12; 4:29-34). But Solomon followed his own desires rather than God's command and married women whose allegiance was not to God (11:1-2). The results were disastrous. Solomon's wives turned his heart toward other gods (vv.3-4), and God became angry with him (v.9). The kingdom of Israel was eventually divided and defeated (vv.11-13).

Good theology is important for everyone. And it is difficult to make good decisions if our allegiance is to someone who does not know and love God. —Julie Ackerman Link

 

Thinking It Over

Why is it unwise for a follower of Christ to marry an unbeliever? What advice does Peter give to wives of unbelieving husbands? (see 1 Peter 3:1).

 

Faulty beliefs about God lead to faulty decisions about people.