"Why do individuals who do not follow God in their dating relationship appear to be prospering and having a great relationship while those who put God first are struggling to find a date and are failing in relationships?"
This is a very insightful question and one I know I have struggled with. This question can also be asked in other ways like, "why am I sick with cancer as a Christian but unbelievers live healthy lives" or "why do I attempt to put God first but my marriage failed" or "why do I get passed over for a promotion as a Christian but my unbelieving friends are always getting promoted?"
While I could take time to answer the nuances of each individual question I will take a few minutes and answer the question in bold and hopefully my answer will apply to the other questions...
First, let me applaud you for asking such a great question. Asking a question of this caliber shows that you are reading and thinking through the Bible. It is a very good thing to think through the teaching of the Bible and attempt to apply the Bible to your life. I applaud you and wish there were more students thinking through the Bible like you are.
Second, Psalm 73 helps to answer your question in fact the author of Psalm 73 had a very similar question. He looked around at evil men who were prospering and began to ask why they were succeeding in life and he was not. Psalm 73:3-5, "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind." The wicked seem to go through life in good health, and then die a painless death or to put it in your words the wicked seem to have dating relationships which prosper and look fun without any cares or worries.
The author continues to count the ways the wicked prosper and the righteous struggle up until verse 17 which is when the chapter switches perspective (But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end) and as the Psalmist worshiped God at the worship center, he began to understand God's perspective on the fate of the wicked.
He realizes in verse 20 (Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms) that the wicked are like a bad dream which one forgets as soon as he awakens. Their well-being is fleeting. Have you ever had a dream and were unable to remember it by the time you arrived at school? That is the fate of those who do not know God or who choose not to follow God they may prosper for just a little while but in the end no one; even worse God will not them. Relationships among people who do not honor God may prosper for a season maybe even a long season but in the end God and other people will not remember them.
The author goes on and contrasts the fate of those who do not honor God with the fate of those who do honor God. Look at verses 23-28, "Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Who have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near to God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works."
May I encourage you not focus on what you can see (ungodly relationships prospering) focus on what you can't see (God is guiding your life and using this season of singleness to prepare you for the spouse He has for you. God is guiding your life and using this season of singleness to prepare you for the glorious future He has for you.)
God is a good good father. The wicked may prosper for a season even a long season but in the end God will not take them by the hand and lead them to Heaven instead He will forget them like a bad dream.
However,
The righteous ones know God and are known by Him. He knows everything you are going through and He is using all of these circumstances, events and this season of singleness to prepare you for the future He has for you. God not only knows you in this life but at the end of your life He will come and take you by the hand leading you to Heaven which is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Please, do not grow weary in doing good (seeking to honor God in your relationships) because at the right time God will reward you and lift you up. The path of obedience in following God's will is typically hard but always worth it. Trust Him!
The path of obedience following God's will is typically hard but always worth it!
In conclusion, may I encourage you not focus on what you can see (ungodly relationships prospering) focus on what you can't see (God is guiding your life and using this season of singleness to prepare you for the spouse He has for you. God is guiding your life and using this season of singleness to prepare you for the glorious future He has for you.) The path of obedience following God's will is typically hard but always worth it!
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