The 5 C's of Finding the Right Life Partner (Pt 1)

Passage

"So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
Genesis 24:2-4 (NKJV)

Pondering

In Singapore it's a joke that most seek after the 5 C's - Cash, Credit Card, Condo and Country Club membership to be considered successful. Well in order to have a successful marriage we must learn 5 C's from Isaac and Rebekah!

When choosing the right partner we are to seek godly...

1. Christians

Abraham's servant did not search among the ungodly nations around them. Instead he went to Haran to find a bride for Isaac from the chosen line.In the same way we should not go evangelistic dating, hoping the other will turn to Christ as we date them! Normally the opposite happens and the Christian drifts away from the faith (i've witnessed this many times). We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, especially in dating and marriage.

2. Counsel

Isaac chose to listen to the counsel of his father and to the decision of his father's servant. He did not follow his heart as our hearts can mislead us, especially in relationship matters. Young adults and youth of today rarely seek their parent's counsel in relationship matters, but if our parent are godly it is a wise thing to seek their advice. Also, Abraham's servant is a type of the holy spirit who not only searches out a bride for God's son, Jesus, but also searches for our partner if we seek His counsel.

I'll consider the next two C's in my next devotional thought.

Poem

You do not yoke a donkey with an Ox,
That's as dangerous as leaving a chicken with a fox.
Yoking those two will cause angry shoving,
No harvest work will be done and very little loving.

Prayer

"Father, my prayer is for the Christian youth and young adults of today that they would not dive into marriage without waiting on you and seeking godly counsel, allowing you to choose the right partner so they will be equally yoked. Amen."