When I was 23, I dated a man who was a devout follower of the "48 Hour Rule."

According to said rule, the man has exactly 48 hours after receiving the phone number of a potential love interest to make good on his intent. The woman then has 48 hours after the initial phone call to reciprocate. If she does not do so within the allotted time period, her phone number gets deleted.

At the time, I was unaware that such an exacting rule for appropriate dating etiquette existed-much less that young women everywhere were expected to be versed in such social norms. Prior to our first dinner, however, my date confessed that my number had been reprogrammed only a day earlier to amend for my lackadaisical actions.

I thought that his methodology then was harsh, but just three years later, dating games have reached a new level.

In 2008, Erik von Markovik, patented the popular Mystery Method for dating. According to this self-proclaimed guarantee for finding love, beautiful women are viewed as "targets" for male predators. Costs and benefits of interaction are analyzed to render an appraisal of worth reminiscent to property valuation for tax purposes. Eschewing the invaluable art of sentimentality, Mystery reduces the flowery epithets of flirtation to what young adults everywhere are supposedly going for in dating: the sexual score.

Over dinner a few weeks ago, a friend of a friend tantalized us with one success story after another, all thanks to Mystery. Although the anecdotes made for hearty laughs and great mockery material, I couldn't help wondering if dating is really supposed to be this hard.

I mean, should young adults really have to invest their dollars into books and seminars to teach them how to redeem their obvious ineptitude in finding companionship?

In 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter of the Bible, verses 5-6 say, "It [love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth."

I wouldn't call the Mystery Method "evil," per se, but it is definitely deceptive. Most dating games are. As the name suggests, the Mystery Method is grounded in subtlety, misrepresentation, and unspoken gestures. Although the Mystery Method might get you laid for a night, it definitely doesn't offer long-lasting love. The results are fleeting, requiring constant work to render continued success.

This is perhaps the most notable difference between lust and love. Dating games not wholly grounded in spiritual unification and desire to please God are usually based on lust. Unlike love, which is concentrated on contentment through sacrificial giving, lust only provides momentary happiness through selfish motives. The results leave us unfulfilled and working unnecessarily hard to replenish a quickly draining hourglass of emotion.

In contrast, Matthew 11:30 says that God's "yoke is easy and His burden is light." Moreover, Matthew 7:24-27 says that anyone who puts the Word of God into action is like "a wise man who built his house on the rock."

It would be foolish to suggest that any relationship is effort-free, but whether or not we can present ourselves as we are makes a tremendous difference. Starting a relationship based on truth, trust, and honesty is not only what God wants from us, but it's what we should want for ourselves. And, when Matthew 5:33 says that everything else will be given to us if we seek God's will first in our life? Well, there's no mystery about that.