The main purpose of dating is to find a person that we're
compatible with and to marry them. This may seem too
simple but the concept is lost on many people.
In a perfect world where everyone followed the will of
God, compatibility wouldn't be an issue. Disagreements
would be settled civilly and husbands and wives would love
each other unconditionally. It wouldn't matter if
spouses had different opinions because they would seek peace
and compromise.
Unfortunately we live in a sinful world and differences
in personality mean a lot about compatibility. Because
of this we need to know if the man or woman we're dating is
"the one."
Dating should be used to get to know a person and to
determine if you can spend your lifetime with that person.
If you already know that the answer is no because you
disagree on religion or how to raise a family, end the
relationship. Dating a person who is not spouse
material will lead down one of two roads. It either
prolongs a relationship that isn't meant to be and causes a
breakup to be more hurtful because of all the time spent
together. Or it will end in marriage because everyone
expects it after a long enough period of time and you will
overlook the problems that have existed in the relationship
all along. Those problems will become amplified in
marriage.
Dating should be fun and relaxed but it has a serious
side to it as well. If you're serious about finding
the right person, ask that God would eliminate the wrong
people for you. The reason for this is simple.
Every person you meet and are interested in is going to have
good qualities that you'll focus on. In the first
weeks or months all you'll notice is the good qualities and
think that this is the perfect person for you. And so
will the next person and the next person. If you ask
God for wisdom, He will show you the qualities that you
don't want in a spouse and you will know a person isn't for
you. Unfortunately it is much easier to spot those who
aren't meant for you than the one who is. The sooner
you stop dating a person who isn't meant for you, the sooner
you can move on to the right person for you however.
