For His Glory- Joyfulness Stewarding Your Singleness | Pastor Chris Searcy | 4.27.25

"For His Gloryˮ

- Joyfully Stewarding Your Singlenessˮ

Proverbs - in Hebrew “māšāl" (ל ָשׁ ָמ) - A wise saying, A parable

Proverbs 1:1-7

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6 to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Timothy 5:1–2

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men

as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Today we are expounding on how to find joy in this season

We will move through 3 main topics:

1. Courting vs dating

2. Equally Yoked

3. Godly community

Courting vs Dating

(slow, public deliberate pace, to find out if we are equally yoked)

Genesis 24: 1-4

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed

Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his

household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that

I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth,

that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites,

among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife

for my son Isaac.ˮ

The servant went miraculously met

Why did Abraham prohibit a Canaanite woman:

1. The Canaanites Were Spiritually Corrupt

• The Canaanites were known for idolatry, child sacrifice, and immoral religious

practices (Leviticus 18:3–30).

• Abraham knew a wife from that culture could lead Isaacѹs heart away from

the Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 (ESV)

3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or

taking their daughters for your sons,

4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods.

Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would

destroy you quickly.

2. Preserving the Covenant Line

• Isaac was the child of promise — through him, God's covenant with Abraham

would continue.

Genesis 17:19

19 God said, ѼNo, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call

his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting

covenant for his offspring after him.ˮ

• Abraham wanted to protect that promise by ensuring Isaac's wife shared

faith in the one true God, not pagan gods.

Physical attraction cam override Spiritual Discernment.

What are the differences between Courting and Dating

Equally Yoked

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has

righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with

darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a

believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God

with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

Deuteronomy 22:10 (ESV)

10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Amos 3:3 (ESV)

3 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

The yoke imagery speaks to two people pulling in the same direction under

the same leadership

What Happens When Animals Are Unequally Yoked?

1. Effects

• If one animal is stronger or taller, the plow won't move straight.

• The stronger animal will drag or strain the weaker one.

• The field will be plowed crookedly, causing poor harvest results.

• The animals will pull at different paces, leading to resistance and exhaustion.

• Instead of working together, they are constantly working against each other.

• The uneven yoke causes neck sores, bruising, and fatigue, especially for the

smaller or less capable animal.

• Over time, both animals are injured or slowed down.

What being equally yoked looks like

• Both spouses trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

• Both submit to Godѹs Word as the foundation for life and decisions.

• Christ is not an afterthought—He is the center of the relationship.

• Their passions and callings complement, not compete.

• Theyʼre helping each other to grow spiritually

5

• Unity in how they view money, sex, family, forgiveness, and priorities.

• Maintain values through disagreements and disappointments

You may love that person deeply, but theyʼre pulling in opposite

directions!

and itʼll end hurting you both!

what is equally yoked Priscilla & Aquila

Community

The final component is Godly community!

Romantic relationships arenʼt the only places to experience deep meaningful

connections.

In the 1st century this was their reality:

Acts 2:46–47 (ESV)

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their

homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God

and having favor with all the people.

Benefits of community:

Sharpening:

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Encouragement:

Hebrews 10:24–25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not

neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,

and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Increased Wisdom:

Proverbs 13:20

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer

harm.