10. What can a couple do to keep their courtship honorable? (Proverbs 22:3)

¹⁰ How can you keep your courtship honorable? As your feelings grow, you will naturally feel more attracted to each other. What can help you to keep yourselves morally clean? (1 Cor. 6:18) Avoid immoral conversations, being alone together, and heavy drinking. (Eph. 5:3) These things can arouse passion and weaken your resolve to do what is right. Why not regularly discuss together what measures you can take to keep your courtship honorable? (Read Proverbs 22:3.) Note what helped Dawit and Almaz from Ethiopia. They say: “We would spend time together in places where there were plenty of people or in the company of other friends. We were never alone in a car or a house. Thus, we avoided situations that could be tempting.”

11. What factors should a courting couple consider when deciding on displays of affection?

¹¹ What about displays of affection? Some may be appropriate as your relationship progresses. However, if your passions are aroused, you will likely find it hard to think objectively about the other person. (Song of Sol. 1:2; 2:6) Displays of affection can also easily escalate and lead to misconduct. (Prov. 6:27) Therefore, early in your relationship, discuss what limits you will set, in harmony with Bible principles.c (1 Thess. 4:3-7) As a couple, ask yourselves: ‘How would people where we live view displays of affection between us? Could these actions arouse passion in either of us?’