Marriage is not the Goal

1
Marriage is not the Goal

• Eccl. 1213 Let us hear the conclusion of the
  whole matter
  marry well and enjoy life
  for this is the whole duty of man.

Fear God, and keep His commandments
2
Two Destructive Errors

• 1. Life is meaningless without marriage
• Whats wrong with you? Youre single!
• Dont worry, theres someone out there
• 2. You can only reach marriage by dating
• Junior and High School Class on Dating
• Concept not found in the Bible
• Date couple spending time together with
  romantic interests and no other company

3
Purpose for Dating

• Recreational
• Peer Prestige
• Social Interaction
• Required before Marriage

4
Problem With Dating

• Disposable Relationships

5
Disposable Relationships

• Fast and Loose with emotions of others
• Develop habit of walking away from commitment
• Gen. 2918 And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I
  will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy
  younger daughter.

6
Problem With Dating

• Disposable Relationships
• Decisions by Immature

7
Decisions without God

• Gen. 61-7 married daughters of men
• Judges 141-4 Samson wanted a Philistine
• Culture involved parents making arrangements
• Today parents only pay for the wedding
• Decisions made by a teen or pre-teen who is
  filled with Hollywood notions of romance.
• Emotions aroused in a person who is not old
  enough to marry for another 10 years!!!

8
Problem With Dating

• Disposable Relationships
• Decisions by Immature
• Desires meet Opportunities

9
Opportunity for Immorality

• Gen. 3911-12 Joseph was a slave who was trapped
  alone with his masters wife
• Innocent, but no one to verify the truth
• Potential for fornication was available
• Very real danger of single dating
• Girls dress as if they are advertising
• Boys do not need much persuading
• Most parents feel there are no alternatives

10
Purpose of Courtship

• Protect from Immorality while preparing to marry
• Parental Involvement
• not pre-arranged marriage
• set age, time, place
• Isaac Gen. 24
• Esau Gen. 2634-35, 2746, 286-9
• Communicate to learn spiritual compatibility

11
Purpose of Courtship

• Preparing yourself for Gods purpose
• Ruth 21-12 gleaning to aid mother-in-law
• Followed Naomis advice 31-4
• Boaz sought right before self 312

12
Problem With Courtship

• Liberated children and permissive parents
• Misunderstood
• Socially Ingrained
• Movies
• Music
• Advertising

13
Purpose for Marriage

• Companionship Gen. 218
• Lawful fulfillment of sexual desires
• I Cor. 72, Heb. 134
• To bring children into the world
• To fear God and obtain heaven Eccl. 1213