The Golden Rule of Right Relationship

There are some people who are just really hard to love . . . and for good reason!  During my years as a counselor at East Iowa Bible Camp, there were a handful of campers who were hard to love.  One particular camper made it his mission to see me get angry by trying to throw a bucket of water on me every opportunity he got.  He would hop out from hiding behind a building and try to soak me, but since he had pre-warned me that he was going to do this, I was alert and he was never able to accomplish this cruel mission (this made him even more upset).  Although he made every effort get me to respond with anger by his intentional mistreatment of me, I continued to try and demonstrate love toward him in my words and actions.  When others mistreat us, it is hard, if not impossible, to love them in return.  And yet, that is the required response if we want to be in right relationship!

READ:  Luke 6:27-36

DOING to others what we wish they would DO to us is how we put God’s one rule of love into PRACTICE!  What we refer to as The Golden Rule in verse 31 is Jesus’ re-statement of the Old Testament Royal Law found in Leviticus 19:18 to, “love your neighbor as yourself”.  In a parallel text in Mt. 7:12 Jesus equates the golden rule with loving your neighbor by saying, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  The Golden Rule is Jesus' new definition of how we are to demonstrate love.  In as much as we apply this ONE GOLDEN RULE in our interaction with others we will be fulfilling ALL of God's relational rules!  How do we put the Golden Rule into practice in relationships?

Put love into practice by returning KINDNESS for EVIL (Lk. 6:27-30) – In verses 27-30 there are six imperatives, or six things that Jesus said we MUST do for those who have mistreated us in some way (love, do good, bless, pray, offer, give, do not demand).  I do not intend to define each and every one of these imperatives, but I believe Paul summarizes Jesus’ teaching in Romans 12:21 by saying, “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  When we are hated, cursed at, abused, used, and mistreated we are going to want to return the favor.  It is in these circumstances that we need to put the GOLDEN RULE into practice.  No matter what type of evil or mistreatment has been done to us, we must respond by doing to them what we wish they would do to us!

Put love into practice by doing MORE than EXPECTED (Lk. 6:32-34) – In verses 32-34 Jesus is saying that demonstrating love is not doing the minimum of what is required.  By doing the minimum we are not being any different than the rest of the world.  Even sinners have the ability to reciprocate love.  When we have been unloved, no good has been done to us, and have lended and not received anything in return we are going to want to withhold our love.  It is in these circumstances that we need to put the GOLDEN RULE into practice.  No matter whether others deserve it, we must respond by doing to them what we wish they would do to us!

Put love into practice by expecting to get NOTHING in RETURN (Lk. 6:34-35) – In verses 34-35 Jesus is saying that our demonstrations of love are NOT impressive when we gain back as much as we gave away.  When we offer a favor, lend money, or do a good deed to another we will naturally want to be acknowledged or be repaid.  It is in these circumstances that we need to put the GOLDEN RULE into practice.  No matter how unfair it may seem, we must respond by doing to them what we wish they would do to us!

CONCLUSION
According to verse 35, God shows us how to put the Golden Rule into practice by being “kind to the ungrateful and the evil”.  In verse 36, Jesus summarizes the Golden rule into a two word command “BE MERCIFUL”.  Ultimately, doing to others what we wish they would do to us is a god-like act of kindness and mercy!  By treating others with kindness and mercy they get to taste God’s merciful love toward us.  What relationship in your life do you need to put God’s one rule of love into practice?

The Ultimate Expression of Right Relationship

Our student ministry takes several overnight trips throughout the year.  Before we depart I gather everyone into a circle where I give my initial ONE RULE for the trip . . . respect and obey the adult leaders going on the trip!  In my small mind this ONE RULE requires the students to obey all the “other” rules that we as adults will make up all along the rest of the way.  Not confusing, not hard to remember, simply DO EVERYTHING the adult leaders ask.  Wouldn’t it be nice if in order to be FULLY obedient to God there was just . . . ONE RULE!?!

READ: Leviticus 19:18

God’s ONE RULE of right relationship is LOVE!  Although the Old Testament law is made up of hundreds of relational, social, and civil laws (including the 10 commandments) in order that we might know how to be in right relationship with God and others, Jewish scholars believed Leviticus 19:18 summarized all the laws in the Old Testament.  The New Testament quotes or alludes to Leviticus 19:18 several times in order to explain that through the action of LOVE we fulfill (obey) the entire Law and Prophets.  For example, Romans 13:8-10 says, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (cf Gal. 5:14; Jms. 2:8)”.

Jesus agreed that the single most important relational rule is LOVE.  In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus was asked what the greatest rule in the Old Testament law was and He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets”  God’s one rule, the ultimate expression of right relationship is . . . LOVE!  This one rule, if obeyed, allows us to simultaneously obey all other rules God has revealed to us.  What is αγαπη love?  Aγαπη love has 4 important characteristics . . .

Aγαπη love is SELFLESS and SACRIFICIAL – Loving requires putting others’ interests, wants, and desires above our own (Phil. 2:3-4).  Love is willing to serve by placing high value and worth on others.  How can I put the other person’s interests above my own in this relationship?

Aγαπη love is an ACTION or DEED that meets a NEED – Loving recognizes and responds to the needs of others (Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 3:17-18).  Love is willing to be merciful and compassionate toward others.  What are the greatest needs of the other person in this relationship?

Aγαπη love is for the GOOD or BENEFIT of others – Loving results in others’ experiencing good, blessing, benefit, or pleasure.  Love is willing to benevolent and charitable toward others (Gal. 6:9; 1 Thes. 5:15).  What can I say or do in this relationship that will bring the other person joy or blessing?

Aγαπη love is a Spirit-led DECISION – Loving is a spiritually rational choice (1 John 4:19).  Love is not based on feeling or preference but a decision of the will to treat others in the way God treats us.  How does God’s love for me help me to choose to love in this relationship?

CONCLUSION
1 Corinthians 13:8 says that “LOVE NEVER FAILS”!  Love is failproof in relationships.  You can’t go wrong if you love in relationships.  Love will always, 100% of the time, be the right thing to do in relationship.  Right relationship with others is dependent upon how willing we are to be loving toward them!  Don’t forget, αγαπη love is the way God relates us!  Are you ready to relate with others according to God’s one “never failing” rule of love?

The Rules of Right Relationship

Rules dominate every area of our lives.  There are rules for everything.  Rules about how fast we can move on a pool deck, “no running”.  Rules about entering a business, “no shoes, no shirt, no service”.  Rules about how fast to drive.  Rules about politeness and etiquette.  Rules about clothing and fashion.  Rules make life complicated, but they are important because they make known necessary boundaries and expectations.  Rules are important because they provide safety and security.  Rules are important because they provide a fixed standard that applies to all people, in all places, at all times.  Wouldn’t it be nice if life had a list of rules to live by?

READ: Exodus 20:1-17

God created humanity in His relational image.  Humanity was given God’s relational nature.  And just like everything else in life there are rules for relationship. Therefore, God revealed TEN RULES to establish the STANDARD of a right relationship with Him and with others!  The Ten Rules, more popularly known as the Ten Commandments, were revealed to the people of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness after God used Moses to deliver them from slavery in Egypt.  The Ten Rules were spoken by God directly to the people and written on tablets of stone by the “finger of God” (Ex. 24:12, 31:18, 32:16).  God said that those who obeyed these Rules were His “treasured possession” (Ex. 19:5).  Many consider these Rules archaic and out of date, but when we obey them, life tends to work.  When we don’t obey these rules, life tends to be more challenging and difficult.  What are the 10 rules of right relationship with God and others?

Rules for being in right relationship with GOD (Exodus 20:3-11) – The first 4 commandments are rules for our relationship with God.  God revealed to humanity His expectation of how we are to relate with Him.  Obeying these rules bring about God’s blessing and favor while disobeying these rules bring about God’s curse and displeasure.
No Other GODS Before Me (vs 3) – We are to give our whole lives in worship to the one true God and Him alone (Ex. 23:13; Deut. 13:1-18; Rom. 12:1-2).
Do not make for yourself a CARVED image (vs 4-6) – We are to worship God, as He is, in spirit and truth (Lev. 19:4; John 4:23-24).
Do not take the name of the Lord your God in VAIN (vs 7) – We are to use God’s name and speak about Him in a worthy and reverent manner (Lev. 19:12).
Remember the SABBATH day, to keep it HOLY (vs 8-11) – We are to physically rest and devote ourselves to the Lord 1 day out of 7 (Ex. 31:12-17; Lev. 23:3).

Rules for being in right relationship with OTHERS (Exodus 20:12-17) – The final 6 commandments are rules for our relationship with others.  God Himself revealed to humanity His expectation of how were are to relate with one another.  When we live obediently to these rules our relationships will be characterized by harmony and peace while living disobediently to these rules will result in tension and division.
HONOR your father and your mother (vs 12) – We are to give our parents honor, respect, and obedience as a result of the authority given to them by God (Ex. 21:15, 17; Lev. 19:3; Deut. 21:18-21; Eph. 6:1-13).
Do not MURDER (vs 13) – We are to value and protect the life of other human beings (Lev. 24:17, 21).
Do not commit ADULTERY (vs 14) – Marital companions are to experience and enjoy sex only with their husband or wife (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22).
Do not STEAL (vs 15) – We are to acquire our own property and possessions rightly through hard work.
Do not bear FALSE witness (vs 16) – We are to speak honestly and truthfully to and about others.
Do not COVET (vs 17) – We are to be content and satisfied with our property and possessions.

CONCLUSION
READ: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 God did not establish these Ten Rules as suggestions, they were established as requirements to be obeyed.  God reveled His Ten Rules to us and we must choose whether we are going to obey. The consequence of our choice is either life or death, blessing or curse.  Right relationship with God and others depends on our desire and efforts to live according to these God-established Rules.  Is it your desire to obey and live by God’s Ten Rules of right relationship?

Right Relationship is an Act of Faith

Our beliefs have a dramatic impact on our lives.  We hold a belief when we are convinced that something is true or right.  Our beliefs determine how we interact with and experience reality.  For example, what we believe about gravity dramatically impacts whether we are willing to walk off the edge of a cliff or not.  This example reveals that our beliefs, whether true and right or false and wrong, have very different consequences and outcomes.  Therefore, it is important that all, or as many of our beliefs as possible, align with what is true and right in reality.

Our beliefs have a dramatic impact on our ability to have a right relationship with God and others.  The foundation of right relationship is BELIEVING what is right and true!  RIGHTEOUSNESS = to be in RIGHT RELATIONSHIP.  God Himself is perfectly righteous, He is the STANDARD of right relationship.  In order for us to be in relationship with God we must be righteous as well.  The bad news is, none of us is righteous. So, how does unrighteous humanity obtain righteousness?  We obtain it in the exact same way Abraham did!  Genesis 15:6 says that “(Abraham) believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”  Throughout Abraham’s life he believed God and acted obediently according to His words.  Abraham believed God when He told him he was going to have a son in his old age (Gen. 15:4-5), he believed God when He told him to be circumcised (Gen. 17:10-14), and he believed God when He told him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:1-12).  In each of these instances Abraham believed and obeyed.  The foundation of Abraham’s obedience was His belief.  BELIEF/FAITH = FULLY CONVINCED that God and His Word are TRUE.  What is the result of believing what is right and true?

Belief/Faith in God results in us BEING right in relationship (Romans 4:1-5) – In most areas of life we receive what is due for our work.  We are due a paycheck based on the hours we work we do at a job.  We are due a grade based on the work we put into studying for a test.  In contrast, in our relationship with God we “do NOT work but believe in Him who justifies the ungodly” in order to be counted as “righteous”.  Right Relationship Tip #1: Righteousness can only be obtained from God as a gift as a result of our belief in Jesus’ work on the cross.  Romans 3:22 says, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”  Jesus Christ has done all the work necessary for us to be in right relationship with God!  Righteousness is a gift of grace from God through Jesus Christ for all of us who believe.  At the moment we believe, righteousness is “counted” to us (Romans 4:22-25).

Belief/Faith in God results in us DOING right in relationship (James 2:14-24) – While belief is all we need to be righteous before God, there is at the same time work to be done.  Righteousness is not just a spiritual thing, it is a practical thing as well.  Being right results in doing right.  That’s why James uses Abraham as an example when he asks the question, “was not Abraham our father justified by his works”, his “faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works.”  Abraham’s righteousness (which he obtained by faith) at the same time, expressed itself in real life!  Right Relationship Tip #2:  Belief is proved genuine by obediently doing righteous actions in relationship.  If we believe, if we are fully convinced that God and His Word are right and true, our belief will simultaneously have a dramatic impact on what we do in our real lives.  If we believe God, it will result in the righteous works of love, kindness, goodness, patience, and forgiveness etc we do in relationship with others.

CONCLUSION
Right relationship (righteousness) with God and others starts with belief/faith! What has God revealed to us that we must believe in order to have a right relationship with Him?  We must . . . 1) Believe that God EXISTS, LOVES us, and wants a RELATIONSHIP with us, 2) Believe that our SIN destroys our relationship with Him, 3) Believe that JESUS died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, 4) Believe that Jesus death provides FORGIVENESS for our sin and restores RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him. Do you believe?  Our righteousness before God and our righteousness before others depends on it.

Right Relationship Begins With the Family

Where do babies come from?  At some point, every child asks this embarrassing question and the answer usually has something to do with “the birds and the bees”.  It should not be too shocking of a revelation that babies are not delivered by a stork.  When children ask this question parents often squirm and try to avoid giving a direct answer for as long as possible.  In reality, the answer to this question should not be embarrassing or a topic that is avoided.  This profound question is answered very early on in the book of Genesis.  In fact, the answer comes as the very first directive given by God to male and female humanity . . .

READ: Genesis 1:28

Marital companions are COMMANDED by God to have CHILDREN!  Once a permanent commitment of faithfulness has been established by God between one man and one woman children are to follow quickly behind.  The childhood rhyme has it right, “first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage”!  This amazing combination of relationships is a family, the God-established foundation and beginning place of right relationship.  In Deuteronomy 6:4-7 God said, “Here, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these WORDS that I COMMAND you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children.”  A family consisting of a male father, a female mother, and child(ren) is the environment God created for humanity to learn to love God and love His commandments.  What is God’s design for marriage, children, and family?

God designed children to be the FRUIT of marital companionship (Gen. 1:28a) – A “greenhouse” is a building where a perfect environment is maintained for the purpose of growing new plants. The family is the perfect relational “greenhouse” established by God where His image is newly planted in children and grows to maturity.  In Malachi 2:14–15 God condemns the breakdown of the marriage and family saying, “the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.  Did He not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.”  A God established marriage and family exist for the purpose of reduplicating His image that He originally created within Adam and Eve.  The desired product of God’s love for humanity and marital companion’s love of one another is godly children.  Family Relationship Tip #1: Be grateful for your PARENTS and allow God to use them to help you GROW into His image.  No matter what family situation we come from, whether godly or not, we exist in this world as a product of a father and a mother in order to bear the image/likeness of God!

God designed family to MULTIPLY His image throughout the whole EARTH from generation to generation (Genesis 1:28b) – Our family tree is a history of relationships from where we descended.  We individually are the result of a long lineage of family relationships in the past.  At the same time, we individually are the seed (beginning place) of a potential long lineage of family relationships into the future.  God wants His image to multiply throughout every branch of our family tree and every family tree that exists (remember, He is the source that started them all). Family Relationship Tip #2:  Commit and prepare now to become a godly SPOUSE and PARENT in the future!  God’s image is currently growing in our life, and we’re next in line to pass the image along.  A spouse and the children we produce have the potential of multiplying God’s image for generations to come.

CONCLUSION
God designed the family to pass the baton of His image from one generation to the next until the whole earth is full of humanity who worship Him.  During our teenage years it is important that we simultaneously reach back for the “baton” of God’s image being passed to us in preparation of passing it on to future generations!  Are you reaching back to receive the baton of God’s image from your parents?  Are you preparing to pass the baton of God’s image forward to your children?

Right Relationship is a Permanent Commitment to Faithfulness

There are an infinite number of opinions about the purpose and value of dating.  It’s just fun . . . to have a good time.  It’s necessary . . . to figure out who we are compatible with.  It’s “practice” . . . to see if we can make each other happy.  We can say whatever we want, but dating ultimately has one purpose . . . it’s a time when we spend exclusive time with someone to explore the possibility of getting married.  It’s serious, it’s exclusive, and commonly includes increased physical intimacy (sitting close, holding hands, kissing, etc)!  Who are we kidding!?!  Dating is a deep investigative relationship moving toward marriage.  Dating is not bad, there is an appropriate time to begin expressing our interest in someone and displaying our ability to love and care for them.

READ: Genesis 2:24-25

Marital companionship is a PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP established by GOD between one MAN and one WOMAN!  There are 3 distinct opposite gender relationship zones, the friend “zone”, the dating “zone”, and the marriage “zone”.  These are 3 very distinct zones which reveal an obvious progression.  We move out of the friend zone into the dating zone by asking (or being asked) the question, “would you go out with me?”  We move out of the dating zone into the marriage zone by asking (or being asked) the question, “would you marry me”?  By God’s design, our interest in the opposite gender leads to movement through the zones toward marriage.  In Matthew 19:3-6 Jesus answered a question about divorce saying, “He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become on flesh?’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together; let not man separate.”  The phrase “joined together” literally means to “yoke with”.  A yoke is an instrument placed the shoulders of two animals in order to unite and coordinate their work together.  God is the one who places this yoke on marital companions and sexual immorality is the only reason we ever have permission to remove it.  How do we know when we are ready to date/be married?

Marital companionship involves LEAVING our PARENTS (Gen. 2:24) – Some of us may stand up, cheer, and say, “all right, sign me up, I’m ready NOW!”  Slow down, not so fast.  Leaving parents is not about getting out from under their authority.  It’s about abandoning our 1) dependency on our parents and 2) our allegiance to them. Leaving parents means no longer needing to rely on them for anything and being prepared to provide for one another.  Marriage Prep Question #1:  Am I mature enough to live 100% INDEPENDENT of my parent’s SPIRITUAL, RELATIONAL, EMOTIONAL, and FINANCIAL support?  God put parents in our lives to prepare us for the day when we would live independent of them.  Our readiness to date and be married is dependent on whether God is done using our parents to instill in us all the wisdom we need for life.  The more we honor and obey our parents the sooner we’ll be ready to date and be married (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16, Eph. 6:1-3).

Marital companionship involves HOLDING FAST to a SPOUSE (Gen. 2:24) – What “The Lego Movie” villain Lord Business called “Kragle”, God calls “holding fast”.  What Lord Business used to try to get people to permanently quit “messing with his stuff”, God uses to permanently bond marital companions together.  The word “hold fast” means to “cling” or “stick” to another.  Marriage is relationship cemented together by God.  Marriage Prep Question #2: Am I mature enough to commit to SELFLESSLY and SACRIFICIALLY care for all the NEEDS of another person no matter what?  Holding fast is an unconditional commitment to love another person no matter what.  Our ability to unconditionally love others and stick with them is a good test of whether we are ready to date and be married (Mk. 12:31).

Marital companionship involves becoming ONE FLESH with a SPOUSE (Gen. 2:24) – God is either a bad mathematician or He knows something that we don’t know.  According to God 1+1=1.  Just like God Himself (1+1+1=1), marriage is a mathematical mystery.  A married man and women experience unity and oneness like no other relationship.  Marriage Prep Question #3: Am I mature enough to remain INSEPARABLY UNITED to a spouse for the rest of my life? Before a marriage there is “he” and “she”, after a marriage there is an entirely new entity called “us”.  Our ability to live in unity and oneness with others is a good test of whether we are ready to date and be married (Rom. 12:16; Phil. 2:2).

CONCLUSION
Marriage has been beautifully designed by God!  Don’t allow your interest in the opposite gender to motivate you to just have a boyfriend or girlfriend, but rather to prepare you for a marriage that will honor God and reflect His image.  Are you spending more time worrying about who you are going to date or preparing for a lifetime of marital companionship?

Right Relationship Satisfies Our Need for Companionship

I confess, at an early age I was interested in girls.  In elementary school I was interested in girls like Sue Risdon, she was cute and good at 4-square, tetherball, and kickball.  In Jr High it was Britt Siebels, she was cute and one of the best female athletes in school.  My childhood “girlfriend” days ended in Jr High when I went to a school dance and realized that boyfriends and girlfriends actually danced together.  This was too much pressure for me and so I abandoned “girlfriends”.  My interest in girls didn’t end, I still had girls I was interested in, girls had my attention, I looked forward to having a girlfriend and being married throughout high school and college.  Why such an ingrained interest in girls?  Why, for all of us, such an innate interest in the opposite sex?

READ: Genesis 2:18-23

A WOMAN is God’s provision for a MAN’S loneliness!  Light was good (Gen. 1:4).  Earth and sea were good (Gen. 1:10).  Vegetation and plants were good (Gen. 1:12).  The sun and moon were good (Gen. 1:18).  Fish and birds were good (Gen. 1:21).  Beasts, livestock, and things that creep on the ground were good (Gen. 1:25).  Everything God created was very good (Gen. 1:31).  The pattern of goodness is broken in Genesis 2:18 when it says man being alone is “NOT GOOD”.  ALONE = state of being without COMPANIONSHIP.  Our individual loneliness is what sparks our interest in relationship.  It is our inherent loneliness that causes our interest in a guy or in a girl.  Nobody teaches us, “this is a girl and you should be interested in one.”  We are made alone, causing a magnetism toward the opposite gender.  What is God’s solution for man’s loneliness?

GOD PROVIDES for our loneliness (Gen. 2:18) – Because God is relational, He knew that without a companion, man would experience loneliness and that loneliness was not good, so HE provided the perfect companion saying, “I will make him a helper”!  Man did not go find a companion for himself, God “made” and “brought (a female companion) to the man”.  Dating Tip #1:  Don’t obsess over trying to ATTRACT a companion (with appearance, charm, etc), but rather put your energy into becoming the PERSON God wants you to be and finding the PURPOSE He has for your life.  It’s easy to begin dating wrongly or prematurely desperate to attract a companion.  Instead trust, that at just the right time, God will provide just the right companion for your life.

God created man in need of HELP and woman to be a HELPER (Gen. 2:18) – A woman is man’s missing rib.  Guys, our attraction is a search for our missing “rib”.  Girls, your attraction is a search for the one who’s “rib” you possess.  Here’s a secret to finding someone even better than a “soulmate”, a “ribmate” . . . Dating Tip #2: Look for a companion who will HELP you become the person God wants you to be and fulfill the purpose He has for your lives TOGETHER.  Guys, being God’s person and fulfilling His purpose for your life by yourself is a lonely task.  Look for someone who can help you be the person God called you to be and to fulfill the purpose God has for your life.  Ladies, look for a man who you sense is the person God wants him to be and is living out a purpose in life that you want to help be a part of.  Marital companionship is not about our happiness, it’s about reflecting the image of God through relationship together (Eph. 5:22-33)!

God makes the perfect FIT to satisfy our loneliness (Gen. 2:18) – Puzzle pieces are all individually different and unique.  We can try to force puzzle pieces together that were not intended to go together or we can do the work of finding piece’s that, when they come together, fit perfectly.  Dating Tip #3: Don’t pursue a companion that matches your PREFERENCES, pursue a companion who COMPLEMENTS you.  The word “fit” in Hebrew means “opposite” or “counterpart”.  Male and female companions who complement one another are ones that when they are brought together complete and perfect one another.  When God brings a marriage companion to us we can trust that they will be a perfect “fit” for us (just like puzzle pieces made for one another)!

CONCLUSION
God created humanity as individual males and females with an inherent interest in the opposite gender and marital companionship.  By pursuing this relationship according to God’s design, we can experience right relationship with the opposite gender within marital companionship we are all so interested in finding!  Are you trying to satisfy your own loneliness or are you trusting God to satisfy your loneliness with companionship?