STEEMCHURCH : CHOOSING A MARRIAGE PARTNER

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We discovered that it was God who conceived the idea of marriage. He also single handedly designed and made it. God created marriage as a means to an end not as an end in itself. God created marriage. Marriage is meant chiefly to provide a help, uniquely fitting for the man who by virtue of his work load of God inspired responsibility, genuinely needs help.

CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP

Christian courtship is the time-gap between the day of agreement of a man and woman regarding God’s leading for marriage to each other. The period of courtship varies in duration and during this time, two are not yet married and they are said to be betrothed to each other. Proper attitude to each other during courtship according to Matthew 5:27 says

“ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shall not commit adultery.

Treat each other as brothers and sisters with all purity and this period is to prove your faithfulness”. Do not use your today to spoil your tomorrow.

OBJECTIVES OF CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP

Christian courtship is not a period for idleness. It is a period of preparation of the two lives for the call of marriage. According to proverbs 6:1 says

“the preparation of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord”.

It is a period to lay a proper foundation for a singular focus and for mutual trust in God and in each other and all these can be achieved through personal study of God’s word and prayers combined with very sincere, honest and open discussion together.

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##HOW THE PERIOD OF COURTSHIP CAN BE USED AND FOCUSED TO ACHIEVE GOD’S PURPOSE OF HELPING MAN TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK OF THE LORD (gen 2:15-18)

A home without focus would soonest become the devil’s playground. The man and woman courting must seek the face of the lord individually and corporately to discover God’s purpose for their marriage if they have not discovered it yet. They must pray throughout the courting period and positive steps must be taken in preparation for the fulfilment of such a purpose. They can discover while praying and discussing with each other that the call of God must be revealed and placed on the brother’s heart as well as that of the sister.

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COURTSHIP PERIOD AS A PREPARATION FOR CHILD BEARING (ps 127:3; eph 5:11-13)

It is expedient to seek the face of the Lord concerning this plan for your home about childbearing. The spirit of the Lord may reveal to you things to come in that regard (john 16:13)
It is during courtship that any perilous lifestyle that may affect childbearing should be discussed with each other as children of light. If the sister has had any sickness or any surgical procedure affecting the reproductive organ or an abortion, it shouldn’t be hidden. The same goes for the man too. Prayerfully discuss these with each other and forgive each other. It may affect the relationship but if that relationship is born of GOD, it will overcome the shaking. And if your partner decides to end courtship at this point, he/she is not bound since you are not married yet. It only shows that God may not be in it after all.