While dating is not specifically addressed in the Bible, we can extrapolate godly principles for dating from God’s word. The Bible’s wisdom is good for all seasons and times of life. When considering dating, we should also consider how we can honor and glorify God in a dating relationship.
We must approach dating with the right motives:
- “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
- “Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:1b, 2).
When you are dating someone be open to wise input and accountability from others. God desires purity for a dating relationship. Dating is getting to know someone of the opposite sex with the potential for marriage. We believe sexual activity is for marriage alone and not for a dating relationship. Practicing purity before marriage leads to true intimacy within marriage.
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because
these are improper for God’s holy people” (Ephesians 5:3).
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
As a Christian the goal of any relationship, including dating, should be to love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). Worldly dating is all about self-satisfaction and self-fulfillment. But in Christ we know that God’s best is the only thing that truly satisfies.
