Here's Kuya Kevin's message last Saturday.
The Book of Genesis gives us a foundation—it reveals God’s original plan for male/female relationships.
Foundations: Genesis 1:27
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Men and women were created equal, but different: both men and women are image-bearers; both share in God’s image.
Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25
"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."
This passage gives us God’s “blueprint” for male/female relationships.
Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25
What this passage doesn't mean:
"You don't have to search for love, Adam didn't search and God just brought Eve to him."
Some interpret this passage to mean we don’t have to search for love or pursue marriage. This is not a correct interpretation of the story of Adam and Even
Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25
Question: What does this passage tell us about the way men and women fall in love?
Answer: Adam and Eve, Eyes and Ears: Men fall in love with their eyes, while women fall in love with their ears.
Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25
Question: What does this passage tell us about the nature of sex?
Answer: Sex creates "one flesh" bond that is unique in God’s creation.
Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25
What does this passage tell us about the nature of man and woman?
We are essentially "hard wired" for marriage: Men and women were created to need each other. Our longing for emotional and physical intimacy is normal and God-given.
Two Commandments for Relationships
Be Pure
Be Wise
Be Pure: “One Flesh”
"Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."
-1 Corinthians 6:16
Be Pure: “One Flesh”
Building on the foundation in Genesis, we see that sexual purity is abstaining from sexual intimacy outside of marriage.
"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."
-1 Corinthians 6:18
God’s prescription for sexual immorality is to run from temptation—avoid situations that will be tempting.
Be Wise
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil."
Be Wise
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
-Proverbs 4:23
Be Wise
"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires."
-Song of Solomon 8:4
Be Wise
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise ..."
-Ephesians 5:15
Be Wise
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ..."
-Philippians 1:9-10
The above verses are about wisdom. God expects us to make wise decisions. This has everything to do with matters of the heart. I repeat: God expects us to make wise decisions.
The Disconnect
Though most singles desire marriage, many make decisions which directly sabotage this plan. In other words, there is a mental disconnect: living as though my current lifestyle has no affect on my future marriage.
