I'm talking about a "relationship". Most have been there and know what I'm talking about. However, my camouflaged motive for writing about "relationships" is to test whether the reader is ready! "I'm already married!" you say, or "My steady and I love each other!". Really? I'm glad for you, but sad for us all! I'm married and committed to two people. I'm sort of a bigamist! "Gasp" says the reader. "We should keep some things secret!"
My affection and love is for my wife. Life wouldn't be the same otherwise. We are in unity and most of the time, harmonize well. I talk to her about everything and hopefully she does me. We like to think that we'd die for our spouse, but that's hard to imagine. It's an unpleasant thought and I won't go there. We are in fellowship and each of us is dedicated to the other (I sure hope it's mutual!). I'm describing a "serious relationship"!
How can I have a relationship with another if I'm dedicated to one already? We must! That's what man was made for; relationships! I'm sure my wife doesn't mind. We sort of have an "open relationship". She doesn't care about how serious I am to another as long as I'm dedicated to her. She's certainly not a "Stepford Wife", but she knows that I love another and need that love! She's a submissive wife in some respects as she's supposed to be:
1 Timothy 2:11 " Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
Who is the "significant other" with whom it's "time to get serious"? It's time for us (the bride) to get serious with the "bridegroom"! Had you surmised that?
Matthew 9:15 "And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."
The bride (the church) is committed. They had children. As part of the church, we're the bride, but on an individual basis, we're as children of the marriage.
The church's love for Jesus is just like that love we have for our partner. It's good that we enjoy the music with our Lord, enjoy the friendship of other believers, pray to our Lord and flirt around a little just like we love him! Is it first love or merely infatuation? It's time to get serious! The dating period is over, we're still dating, but not engaged and marriage seems far off.
The relationship needs to go to the next level. "Getting serious" is about commitment to Jesus, and about a monogamous relationship with him. We're not to flirt around with others. The days of being our own God are over if we are committed. Pleasure is put aside for contentment. Joy is the reward in having a serious relationship with the Bridegroom!
How can we get serious? Focus on the Lord. Be Christlike. Be sanctified. You are to be set apart in a sealed relationship with your firstlove. As the bride, you're to be submissive to the Bridgegroom. We're to do what Jesus would have us do!
Most of us go to church, think about the after church meal, laugh with friends, kid the pastor, enjoy the music and consider the sermon. That's dating! We need to get married! Do you truly love Jesus? Do you tell others how "taken" you are by his qualities? Do you brag to others how content you are and brag on the joy you have together? Probably not! You and I fail miserably. We "date" the betrothed-to-be, but we aren't married. Yes, "it's time to get serious!"
1 Peter 4:1 "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;"
Jesus got serious about the bride (us)! He "suffered for us in the flesh". We need to do likewise. We are to have unity with the bridegroom. That's getting serious!
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