Sometimes, as we swim in the polluted pool of popular culture, we can lose sight of the fact that relationships are not just for our own gratification. In fact, while it makes sense that we wouldn’t enter into a relationship with someone we’re not having fun with or not attracted to, we need to place some things ahead of the good times we want to have together.

Why does God place us together in any kind of relationship? He tells us in Romans12:10 that we are to: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.� The first part of this verse tells us to give sacrificially to those God places near us. This is great practice for any kind of close relationship, but especially for those who are looking at marriage in the future. If you’re already married,

hopefully you’re working hard to perfect this philosophy in your relationship with your spouse. You might ask yourself: “Do I give in on matters of non-essentials frequently as a gift to my girlfriend/spouse? Am I eager to go out of my way to show support and encouragement, putting my own whims and moods aside for her sake?�

On the flip side, there is our obligation to uphold God’s truth despite what may feel good at the moment, perhaps even in spite of the fact that speaking the truth in love often carries the risk of our partner being angry or hurt by what we say. In Galatians 6:1, we are told: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently…�. And by the way, to save your relationship, you would do well to remember the “gently “ part of this verse!

Further on in Romans, we read: “…Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.� This has an obvious relationship to what other people may perceive as our proper or improper relationship with a girlfriend. Do we take care that we are not sharing hotel rooms, even for the sake of economy and that we don’t spend the night together, even when nothing improper is taking place and we are simply behaving according to false economy or convenience? We may never have the chance to undo a misperception that can kill a Christian witness, or we may add to the perception, even of a stranger that �everyone is doing it,� which passively encourages others toward sin.

Our relationships are not our own. Like every good thing we enjoy, they are on loan to us from God. Let us be good stewards of one of the most precious gifts we have been given: each other.

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