revolve around relationships and thus one of His earliest principles
was to teach us how to prepare for an effective, thriving, meaningful
and purposeful relationship between a woman and a man within
marriage. He uses Adam to show us how a man gets ready for
marriage. He then gives us other foundational scriptures throughout
the Bible to show us how to move into a marriage as well as how to
make our marriages stand the test of time.
BEFORE THE COURTSHIP
How does a man prepare to take a wife? To find out, let’s take a look
at God’s original design of pre-courtship through the eyes of Adam.
In Genesis 2, God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and
he was now a living being. In Genesis 2:8, God planted a garden
and he put trees and rivers there. Then, God does something very
foundational. He put Adam in the garden to tend to it. Pay close
attention, God was careful to not only give Adam purpose but He
was sure to give him instruction. In 2:16, God instructs Adam to eat
from any tree except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Our loving God also gives Adam the consequence of not following
His instruction. God gives Adam subsequent instruction but with
more responsibility. Adam essentially received a promotion. He
moved from tending the garden to now, naming all the animals of
the garden. It wasn’t until then (v.20) that God saw fit that it was
now time for Him to make Adam a suitable helper.
Single ladies, do not rush single men into marriage before they
are ready. As you can see, God wants him to establish his purpose,
receive instruction, receive promotion and then when he is ready
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