The Test of Time

If you’re single, I believe that God has someone picked out for you. In fact, you can start praying for your future spouse today, even though you don’t know yet who he or she is. Then again, maybe you already do. Either way, you can start praying for your future husband or wife now.

When you’re looking at potential candidates to spend the rest of your life with and considering who could be the parent of your children and the grandparent of your grandchildren, start here: Look for a godly person. Even better, find someone who is godlier than you. But don’t marry someone who isn’t a Christian because the Bible says, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT).

Marriage is challenging enough. Don’t make it even more challenging by marrying a nonbeliever. You and your spouse need to be able to pray together and commit things to the Lord together. You need someone with whom you can look to God for strength. Once you make the commitment of marriage, it should be a lifelong commitment. Wedlock should be a padlock—in the best way. If you’re unwilling to make that kind of commitment, if you want to experiment with marriage and then maybe get divorced if it doesn’t work out, then do everyone a favor and stay single.

Pray about marriage, and take your time. The Bible says that love is patient (see 1 Corinthians 13:4). Some couples want to rush into marriage. Don’t do that. Get to know each other. The Bible says, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it” (Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT). If the love that you and your beloved have for each other is real love, it will stand the test of time.

Make the right decision and marry the right person.