Relationships: Passing the Vibe CheckSample

Day 10: Sweethearts

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Place me like a seal over your heart,

like a seal on your arm.

For love is as strong as death,

its jealousy as enduring as the grave.

Love flashes like fire,

the brightest kind of flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

nor can rivers drown it.

If a man tried to buy love

with all his wealth,

his offer would be utterly scorned.

If you are a hopeless romantic and you haven’t read Song of Solomon yet, you are missing out. This book is also called The Song of Songs because it is considered the best song that was ever written. This book of the Bible is an intimate love story about a young girl from the country and her husband, King Solomon, showing the power of faithful, married love. Both the husband and wife speak in the verses of this narrative poem format, and it’s very pretty.

In the verses above, the wife is speaking. She wants to be known permanently to him in his heart and to others by a seal, or mark of commitment, on his arm. She talks about the passion and fire of young love, and she explains that rivers of problems can’t put out the flames of true love and that true love cannot be purchased. So romantic!

Isn’t this a perfect representation of what young love feels like? The poem is as beautiful as the meaning because it depicts a mature and tested love. But, I’m not sure how realistic it is to believe that a young high school or college couple will be able to live up to this type of commitment in the beginning months and years of their relationship.

What happens when arguments and disagreements arise?

Proverbs 27:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 As iron sharpens iron,so a friend sharpens a friend.

If one partner needs to receive strong words about behavior, expectations, tone of voice, or selfishness, a truly mature couple can survive this honesty. However, immaturity will cause both partners to bristle or shy away from such conversation. If a relationship works because one person demands and bullies and the other one doesn't have the freedom to voice concerns, then the relationship isn't built on solid ground. If one partner wants to move forward slowly, exploring the relationship without jumping into physical intimacy but the other doesn't understand, then the iron of God's plan for them as Christians will cut the relationship in two instead of sharpening their focus on Him.

Two mature Christian people will help each other grow and become more Christ-like as their love and commitment deepen.

·To what extent are you realistic about dating and relationships at this stage of your life?

·How do you help your significant other become more like Jesus?

·How do you sharpen each other with serious conversations?