Tim Keller has been pastoring Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City since he planted it in 1989, and the church reflects the city’s demographics: over 80% of the people are single. So Keller has a lot of experience shepherding singles.

His new book The Meaning of Marriage  includes a chapter entitled “Singleness and Marriage.” It concludes with “some practical counsel for marriage seekers,” which unpacks eight guidelines (pp. 207–18):

1. Recognize that there are seasons for not seeking marriage.
2. Understand the “gift of singleness.”
3. Get more serious about seeking marriage as you get older.
4. Do not allow yourself deep emotional involvement with a non-believing person.
5. Feel “attraction” in the most comprehensive sense.
6. Don’t let things get too passionate too quickly.
7. However, also don’t become a faux spouse for someone who won’t commit to you.
8. Get and submit to lots of community input.

Related:

1. “You Take Me the Way I Am”
2. “My wife has lived with at least five different men since we were wed—and each of the five has been me.”