One reason that I like it so much is for its excellent advice. I would like you to remember that everything about this earthly life is temporary. It is temporary, but it is not unimportant. God has made us in His image and has created us for a purpose. Living by His plan is wise and rewarding. The choices that we make always lead to consequences. The good and thoughtful choices will bring joy and satisfaction into our lives and into the lives of our friends and family. The foolish and rebellious choices will lead to heartache and disappointment for us and for the people who love us. Sometimes the consequences of our actions change the entire course of our lives for better or for worse.
On this journey we call life, we need a road sign that reads, "Proceed With Caution". God has prepared the way and He has provided the instructions in the Bible. There is an old country song that I remember from my 'teen years. Let me quote from it here:
"I'm using my Bible for a road map, the children of Israel used it too.
They crossed the Red Sea of destruction, for God was there to see them safely through.
"There'll be no detours in Heaven, no rough roads along the way.
I'm using my Bible for a road map, my last stop is Heaven some sweet day."
-- Written by Don Reno and Charles Schroeder
In the Book of Proverbs we can read the warnings that Solomon wrote to his son about staying away from the wrong kind of woman. In II Timothy 2:22, Paul warned, "flee youthful lusts but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." For the believer, our closest friends and companions should be those who know and love Jesus. They should be the kind of friends who help us to grow as sincere Christians.
When you start thinking of marriage, pray earnestly that God will help you make the right choice. Little in this life is more important than the decisions about when and who to marry. Read the Bible portions about marriage and meditate on God's plan for the home and family. Remember, just about everyone can be "nice" when you go on a date. Any red flags about character, personality, and behavior should not be ignored. This kind of thing will NOT get better once you say, "I do".
Someone has said that marriage is NOT 50/50. That is divorce, they say. Marriage is 100/100. Both the husband and the wife will be totally committed to God and to each other. They will put away their selfishness and love each other sacrificially. It will be their desire to please the Lord in everything they do and say. They will love each other unconditionally. And they will rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit as they establish their home and family.
In every interaction, God says in both the Old and New Testaments that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Here, in I Corinthians 13:5-7 is God's guide to the right kind of relationship in the home, in the classroom, in the workplace:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
