This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Mt. 1:18
Dating
Long-term dating
Engagement
It’s not marriage. We know there is a difference. God says there’s a difference.
Culturally, marriage is a legally binding contract joining two people in relational commitment. Spiritually, marriage is a vow to God and man that melds a man and woman into one flesh.
Dinner and movie doesn’t do that. Dinner and dessert and a movie doesn’t do that.
A diamond ring and saying that you are going to do that doesn’t do THAT.
Marriage is called holy matrimony for a reason- because God himself seals the union. Before you lock and load your commitment in a God-sealed marriage, don’t get too close. Engaged is not the new married.
Let marriage be held in honor among all. Heb. 13:4
Emotionally
“There is an emotional promiscuity we’ve noticed among many good young men and women… Be careful you do not offer too much of yourself to a man until you have good, solid evidence that he is a strong man willing to commit.” –Stasi Eldredge
There must be a hidden place of your heart reserved for marriage. There must be quiet places of your soul that come to light on your wedding day. There must be a piece of you reserved solely for the one you marry when you say “I do.”
Financially
What’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours. No, it isn’t. Not until you are married. Don’t share bank accounts, a mortgage or a piggy bank until the deal is sealed.
Residentially
Don’t redecorate his house. Don’t keep your toothbrush at her house. Certainly do not move in together or spend the night together. Save that for the next level- marriage.
Sexually
Engagement doesn’t give you freedom to give yourself sexually. Put intentional hedges around your purity. Safe-guard your sexuality until the time is right (SoS 8:4).
- Run from sexual sin! 1 Cor. 6:18
- Let the marriage bed be undefiled. Heb. 13:4
- Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Prov. 5:19
- The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 1 Cor. 7:3
When the time is right, freely give yourself to an open sexual relationship with your spouse.
Prepare yourself and your relationship for marriage. Do it God’s way and be blessed!
Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
“Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. Gen 29:18-20
