Relationship Road MapSample

WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS

On the dating journey, it’s important to identify your current location—where you are right now and how you got here.

These are my hopes.

These are my dreams.

This is how my heart was broken in my last relationship.

These are the ways I may have a tainted view of dating and mar­riage based on my past or my parents’ marriage.

It’s also important to identify your desireddestina­tion.

I believe God’s design for romantic relationships between men and women is for them to move toward marriage. We read in Ephesians 5 that God designed marriage to be a picture of Christ’s relationship with the church. In other words, a Christlike marriage is one of the primary ways God demonstrates the glory of the gospel to the world. So, our cul­ture’s view of dating—dating with little-to-no intention of pursuing marriage, dating just for fun, or dating for years with­out considering marriage—is contrary to God’s de­sign.

I know that may sound foreign and antiquated, but let me explain. First, you’re fooling yourself if you think you can give someone your time but not give them your heart. Matthew 6:21 says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The person you date will have a piece of your heart. The inevitable disappointment from every breakup will ever so slightly callous your heart.

I also believe that God designed sex to be enjoyed in the context of marriage, and it’s already ex­tremely difficult for many of us to maintain integrity and not sleep with the person we are dating. Song of Songs in the Bible tells us, “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires” (Song of Songs 2:7). Removing the finish line of marriage and the reward of waiting increases our likelihood of falling.

Finally, dating requires investment. When you’re investing your resources in one place, it means you’re not investing elsewhere. I’ve seen people waste years of their lives—neglecting their personal growth, career advancement, or pursuit of their God-given purpose—all for someone they knew they wouldn’t spend the rest of their lives with. Dating well starts with being aware of where your treasure is.

If someone looked at how you spent your time and resources, where would they say your treasure is?