Biblical dating advice

by ·

Biblical Dating Advice: How to Build Loving Relationships

Dating can be a challenging journey for many people. As Christians, though, we have a unique guidebook that offers timeless wisdom and instruction on relationships. The Bible offers us practical advice on how to build and maintain healthy relationships that honor God and bring joy to our lives. Let’s explore some biblical principles that can help us grow in love and strengthen our relationships.

Encouraging and Building Up One Another

One of the most relevant principles in any relationship is to encourage and build up one another.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.“
This means that we should always strive to lift our partners, friends, and family members, and help them to reach their full potential.
We should offer words of affirmation, support, and inspiration, and be a source of strength and comfort when they need it.

Loving God with All Your Heart, Soul, and Mind

Another principle in biblical dating advice is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus teaches that the greatest commandment is to “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.“
This means that we should prioritize our relationship with God above all, and seek to honor Him in all that we do.
When we love God with our whole being, we are better prepared to love and serve others in a way that brings glory to Him.

Letting Love be Genuine and Abhorring Evil

In Romans 12:9, Paul gives us another important principle for relationships: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.“
This means that we should strive to love sincerely and without hypocrisy.
We should reject all forms of evil, including dishonesty, selfishness, and cruelty, and instead cling to what is good and pure.
When we let love guide our actions, we can build strong and meaningful relationships rooted in truth and integrity.

Loving One Another with Brotherly Affection and Showing Honor

In Romans 12:10, Paul writes, “In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another.“
This means that we should love our partners, friends, and, of course, family members like family, with a deep sense of affection and care.
We should also strive to show honor and respect to one another, putting the needs of others before our own.
When we love and honor others in this way, we can build trustworthy and kind relationships.

Seeking a Spouse Rather Than Just a Boyfriend or Girlfriend

Finally, one of the most applicable principles in biblical dating advice is to seek a spouse rather than just a boyfriend or girlfriend.
In 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, Paul writes, “But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn.“
This means that we should be intentional about our dating relationships, seeking to build friendships that could potentially lead to marriage.
We should also be willing to exercise self-control and wait for the right person, rather than rushing into relationships that may not be God’s best for us.

The Bible offers us a wealth of wisdom and guidance on how to build healthy and meaningful relationships. By encouraging and building up one another, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, letting love be genuine and abhorring evil, loving one another with brotherly affection and showing honor, and seeking a spouse rather than just a boyfriend or girlfriend, we can create relationships that bring glory to God and bring joy to our lives.

While relationships can be complex and challenging, we can trust that God has given us the tools and principles to navigate them with wisdom and grace. By applying biblical principles to our relationships, we can build a strong foundation of love, trust, and mutual respect that can weather any storm. So let us commit ourselves to seek God’s guidance and wisdom as we build and maintain healthy relationships that honor Him.