I am always on the lookout for good wisdom to pass on to the young men at my church. I found a goodie in this piece by Greg Gibson over at the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Here are his four thoughts for young men preparing for marriage.

Don’t pursue girls, pursue Christ, then pursue a woman. I know the truth, though. Guys pursue girls because of physical attraction. Instead, my challenge is to pursue Christ, and when you are ready, pursue a young woman who has been practicing something similar.

Prepare yourself for marriage by pursuing the marks of manhood. If you want something for which to aim, then aim for the marks of true manhood.  Here are a few of them:

KNOWING THE GOSPEL. Begin by knowing the gospel. Don’t just know it, though, know it enough to share it and teach it.

SACRIFICIAL LEADERSHIP. Read books on leadership. Get around men you respect, not just those who are funny.

HARD WORK. This is one thing that will set you above others. If you are a young man who works hard, then people will notice. Develop this discipline at an early age. Work hard in school. Work hard at being the best son and brother you can be. Work hard at being the best friend you can be. Work hard at your job. One day, you will be called to provide for your family. Will you do whatever you have to do to make that happen?

PROTECTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT ALL COSTS. John Piper says it best when he poses the question, “Who gets in the lifeboat first when the ship is sinking?” God has called men to lay down their lives, if necessary, for women and children. This is what is known as the mark of protection. Begin to see yourself as a protector of women—in all areas. This means you protect women not just physically, but also emotionally and sexually. This is a great and honorable task. Are you ready to raise the bar here?

MAKING GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. Become a decision-maker for others. Filter your decisions through questions like, “How does this affect other people, such as my family, friends, co-workers, etc.?”

Invite other dudes into your life for WISDOM and ACCOUNTABILITY (both older men and peers). Don’t be a loan ranger. You will fail.

Pursue a girl with her dad’s approval, but don’t date until you’re READY for marriage. I don’t think I can say it enough. Date when you are ready for marriage. And when you are ready for marriage, make sure her father (or another male figure in her life) is involved. Until then, you are only a potential, bro.

Read the entire post here.