CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
God loves you because god is love (1john 4:16). That never changes, no matter what we do or who we are. Gods love isn’t based on what we do or who we are. It is based on who He is and what His son has done for us.
GOD CREATED SEX
I am not here to talk about why people should not have sex, I am not here to talk about STDs and teen pregnancy.
I am here to talk about how great meaningful, loving and godly sex can be when done under the right conditions. So you don’t go thinking that sex is a big taboo so much so that when you feel like it you think you have committed a great sin because you feel honey. It is natural to feel honey and desire someone to have it with.
But abuse is dangerous. Sex is not only physical as some people think. It is psychological, emotional and spiritual and so not to be abused.
Now being so as it may, singles are expected to exercise caution when trying to get into relationships with the opposite sex so as not to fall into the dangers of sex abuse. Sex is for marriage.
PURPOSEFUL DATING – HEBREW, 13:4
Christians are the best planners. Everything we do is based or ought to be based on one fact: JESUS is coming back. Paul says whatever we do, whatever we eat or drink, we should do it for the glory of God. We need to teach ourselves that thoughtless dating is not God honoring. Some Christian youths date someone they know they would never marry. Christians are not called to live for the temporary. Christians don’t treat others as objects to be consumed. Christians don’t get what they can from someone and then toss them aside when they are done with them. Christians value each other better than themselves. Christians treat others with value, love, respect, and dignity. Dating someone just for kicks is not a part of who we are, even if the other person agrees to it.
EQUAL YOKING
Apostle paul says, don’t be equally yoked with unbelievers. This definitely applies to our dating relationships. We need to date someone who knows our God, loves our God, and encourages/challenges us to do so as well. Having a close partnership (dating relationship) with an unbeliever doesn’t make sense and isn’t wise.
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Healthy relationships share certain characteristics that we should expect they include,
- Mutual respect: this means that each person values who the other is and understands the other persons boundaries.
- Trust: partners should place trust on each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt.
- Honesty builds trust and strengthen the relationship.
- Compromise: in a dating relationship, each partner does not get his or her way. Each should acknowledge different point of views and be willing to give and take.
- Individuality: neither partner should have to compromise who he or she is, and his or her identity should not be based on a partners. Each should continue seeing his or her friend and doing the things he or she loves, each should support his or her partner wanting to pursue new hobbies or make new friends.
TO BE CONTINUED