The Sufficiency of Christ

Ashley, you've inspired me.  A few days ago, you touched on a topic that's been on my heart for a while: 

GUYS. 

(Obviously, this post is going to mainly be directed at girls, but guys can get something from it too if they switch "guys" to "girls".) 

In our society today, it's really pushed to be "in a relationship" with a guy.  Even in middle school, girls are pressured by the media and their peers to have some sort of relationship.  We're told we need to have a guy in our lives.  Sadly, this is incredibly prevalent in Christian circles as well.  It's accepted as a "normal" part of culture.  The cycle of break up, rebound, break up, rebound--essentially, practicing for divorce--is considered part of growing up. 

I remember a friend of mine telling me a few years ago that a girl has to have her heart broken at least once in her life.  If taken as an observation about life, it's partly true.  I know a lot of girls get their hearts broken, and for some of them, it's not necessarily their fault.  Yet they still go back for more pain and heartache because they "need" a guy. 

But the need for male attention is a lie.  We may feel we need that, but think about it for a minute... why do we need a guy to give us love when we have Christ, who is the Author of love?  Christ can give us so much more than any human ever could.  He'll never break a promise to us.  He's always there for us.  His love for us isn't tainted by other desires.  It's pure, perfect love, completely unconditional and irrevocable. 

I know it's hard to wrap our heads around this.  We can't see Christ standing in front of us.  We can't feel His arms around us.  We can't hear His voice whispering in our ears.  Resting in His love requires faith, and that's what makes it so hard.  Usually--unless you're like me and you're regrettably and almost totally oblivious--you know if a guy "likes" you.  You can see him and hear him and feel him.  It's easy to believe he loves you.  Unlike Christ, though, his love for you is imperfect.  Much as he tries, he just can't compete with Christ's love. 

This isn't to say that love between a man and a woman is bad.  On the contrary; it's good.  God created it and declared it very good.  But when that relationship is elevated above God, it becomes bad.  We're supposed to glorify God in everything we do, especially guy-girl relationships.  Marriage is, after all, a picture of Christ's relationship with the church, and that relationship is a wonderful thing. 

But most of you aren't ready to get married yet.  You might feel like this isn't really applicable to you.  It is, though, when we think about dating/courting as essentially preparation for marriage.  Dating/courting isn't something we do just for fun to kill time.  It should have a purpose; namely, to find out if the other person would be suitable for marriage.  Thus, it's typically unwise to date/court before we're ready to be married. 

I've probably belabored the point now, so I'll let God do the talking: 

Matt. 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Jer. 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.