Is It Wrong to Have Romantic Feelings?

by Clem Thurman
via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 40, Oct. 2, 2009

"And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make for him a help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18). God intended that man should have a mate, a woman, and that that woman should have a man as her mate. That has been true from the beginning of man's time on this earth. Adam and Eve were the first pair on the earth and they were called upon by God to have children thereby populating the earth on which they lived. Paul told Titus to teach the older women to teach the younger women to love their husbands. So, women and men should love their mates and thereby fulfill the sexual needs and desires of one another. This would be a romantic way of life accepted by God.

One of the beautiful stories of the Bible is that of Jacob and Rachel. Sent by his father, Isaac, to find a wife, Jacob came to Haran and found a shepherd girl named Rachel. He petitioned her father, Laban, for Rachel to be his wife. "And Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leah's eyes were tender. But Rachel was beautiful and well favored. And Jacob loved Rachel" (Genesis 29:16-18). This, no doubt was romantic love and nothing is said about Jacob's romantic feelings for Rachel being wrong for him to have. In fact, we are told in the Scriptures that men are to love their wives and wives are to love their husbands.

There are many stories in the Bible about the love that husbands should have for their wives and wives are to have for their husbands. Such stories as that of Boaz and Ruth, and the Song of Solomon, etc. God has built into the human race a love for the opposite sex. This love is to be between a man and a woman, a husband and wife. The fulfillment of sexual desires is to be had between a husband and wife. It is never to be fulfilled outside the marriage arrangement. If it is such is adultery or fornication. Sin in the sight of God.