The Numbers Game

People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. – Proverbs 26: 24-26

So…how many people have you dated?

In some Christian communities, if you answer more than two or three you’ll see some raised eyebrows. There’s nothing wrong with dating, but remember: Playing the field should be left to a sporting event – not your love life. If you’re looking for a series of brief, uncommitted relationships for satisfaction, you’ve got a problem. In Mark 7: 21-22 Jesus says, “from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality...lustful desires…pride, and foolishness.” How’s your heart? Have you given it to more people than you can even name? Begin single is hard, but it only gets harder when you decide to mess around with people to whom you haven’t really made a commitment.

Everyone needs friends to keep them accountable. Friends who can be totally honest with each other, even when the truth is painful. God tells us to be holy and help each other out. “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path” (Galatians 6:1). Thank God for friends who can keep us from falling, and who help sustain us during the dry periods. A quick fling will never satisfy like these friendships, and an endless list of dates, no matter how large, can never compare to the abundance of God’s love.

Prayer: Show me how to protect myself from all kinds of trickery and wrongdoing. Thank you for forgiving me of past sins a renewing my soul through your never-ending grace and love. Amen.