--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The joy of intimacy is the reward of…" description: "\"The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.\" — Joshua Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png" --- # The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment. ![“The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.” quote by Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png) > “The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.” [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intimacy’s joy is a direct reward of sustained commitment in relationships. **In simple terms:** Commitment yields intimate joy. Key Takeaway Invest in lasting relationships. Themes love commitment intimacy Mood warm encouraging Type relationship advice When to use this quote - marriage counseling - long‑term partnerships - friendship building Key Concepts Attachment theory relationship dynamics trust building Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain individuality within commitment? - What practices nurture mutual growth? A Different Perspective Commitment can feel restrictive if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-love/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Godly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godly/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) ## Related quotes > [“And I think that's the story of our generation's pursuit of fulfillment in relationships. We wished for intimacy without obligation. We wished for sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/and-i-think-that-s-the-story-of-our-generation-s-pursuit-of/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [Love offers no guarantees or blueprint, but the joy of intimacy is worth the risk. Trust yourself and step out in trust. The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/love-offers-no-guarantees-or-blueprint-but-the-joy-of-intimacy-is/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [Once the joy of intimacy with God has been experienced, life becomes unbearable without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/once-the-joy-of-intimacy-with-god-has-been-experienced-life-becomes/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [“There are people from your community who love Him in a quiet, reverent way. There are others who are more bold and vocal about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/there-are-people-from-your-community-who-love-him-in-a-quiet-reverent/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/whatever-a-person-may-be-like-we-must-still-love-them-because-we-love/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And "perfect love casteth out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/godly-fear-is-loving-and-trusting-in-him-as-we-fear-god-more/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [“First we must understand that all of the world's deceptions flow from the belief that love is primarily for the fulfillment and comfort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/first-we-must-understand-that-all-of-the-world-s-deceptions-flow-from/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [Women need to remember that if nature has made them plain, grace can make them beautiful, and if nature has made them beautiful, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/women-need-to-remember-that-if-nature-has-made-them-plain-grace-can/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“We should never use spiritual activities as a way to grab for more intimacy than is appropriate for our relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/we-should-never-use-spiritual-activities-as-a-way-to-grab-for-more/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [Just because lips have met doesn't mean hearts have joined. And just because two bodies are drawn to each other doesn't mean two people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/just-because-lips-have-met-doesn-t-mean-hearts-have-joined-and-just/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [During courtship, guarding each other's purity and refraining from intimacy are the acts of lovemaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/during-courtship-guarding-each-other-s-purity-and-refraining-from/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [God is no further from you on your worst day than He is on your best day. Just open your heart to receive Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/god-is-no-further-from-you-on-your-worst-day-than-he-is-on-your-best/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [So long as we stand "under the Law", we cannot perceive this hidden unity of all the commandments. It is part of legalism that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-brunner/so-long-as-we-stand-under-the-law-we-cannot-perceive-this-hidden/) [Emil Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-brunner/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/a-christian-should-always-remember-that-the-value-of-his-good-works/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) ## More by Joshua Harris > [The world takes us to a silver screen on which flickering images of passion and romance play, and as we watch, the world says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-world-takes-us-to-a-silver-screen-on-which-flickering-images-of/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [When we define our happiness by some point in the future, it will never arrive. We'll keep waiting until tomorrow. If we allow impatience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/when-we-define-our-happiness-by-some-point-in-the-future-it-will/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [You get up and you preach a sermon and people walk away thinking what a great guy - and that's a failure as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/you-get-up-and-you-preach-a-sermon-and-people-walk-away-thinking-what/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [A defining reality for me is what Scripture teaches in Hebrews 12, that God is our father, and that a sign that he loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/a-defining-reality-for-me-is-what-scripture-teaches-in-hebrews-12/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“I especially loved the Old Testament. Even as a kid I had a sense of it being slightly illicit. As though someone had slipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/i-especially-loved-the-old-testament-even-as-a-kid-i-had-a-sense-of/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [We can each rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign over our life's situation. No matter where we are today or what mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/we-can-each-rest-in-the-knowledge-that-god-is-sovereign-over-our-life/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“Purity consists of more than remaining a virgin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/purity-consists-of-more-than-remaining-a-virgin/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [During courtship, guarding each other's purity and refraining from intimacy are the acts of lovemaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/during-courtship-guarding-each-other-s-purity-and-refraining-from/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“The face that Moses had begged to see—was forbidden to see—was slapped bloody (Exodus 33:19–20). The thorns that God had sent to curse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-face-that-moses-had-begged-to-see-was-forbidden-to-see-was/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [I've come to learn that theology matters. It matters not because we want to impress people, but because what we know about God shapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/i-ve-come-to-learn-that-theology-matters-it-matters-not-because-we/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“The irony of their impatience is that only by learning to wait, and by a willingness to accept the bad with the good, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-irony-of-their-impatience-is-that-only-by-learning-to-wait-and-by/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“We can't change by fancy methods. We can't change by mere willpower. But God's Spirit working in us can help us to "will and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/we-can-t-change-by-fancy-methods-we-can-t-change-by-mere-willpower/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [“The right thing at a wrong time is a wrong thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-right-thing-at-a-wrong-time-is-a-wrong-thing/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [Courtship is a commitment - it's a promise not to play games with another person's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/courtship-is-a-commitment-it-s-a-promise-not-to-play-games-with/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/every-relationship-for-a-christian-is-an-opportunity-to-love-another/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) [Explore all 80 Joshua Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) ## More Christian love quotes > [A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/a-christian-should-always-remember-that-the-value-of-his-good-works/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [So long as we stand "under the Law", we cannot perceive this hidden unity of all the commandments. It is part of legalism that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-brunner/so-long-as-we-stand-under-the-law-we-cannot-perceive-this-hidden/) [Emil Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-brunner/) > [God is no further from you on your worst day than He is on your best day. Just open your heart to receive Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/god-is-no-further-from-you-on-your-worst-day-than-he-is-on-your-best/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-will-protest-courageously-and-yet-with-dignity-and-christian/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/love-is-watchful-sleeping-it-does-not-slumber-wearied-it-is-not-tired/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-learn-to-live-with-kindness-to-love-everyone-even-when-they-do/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And "perfect love casteth out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/godly-fear-is-loving-and-trusting-in-him-as-we-fear-god-more/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/christian-love-draws-no-distinction-between-one-enemy-and-another/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Every action is a losing, a letting go, a passing away from oneself of some bit of one’s own reality into the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-mcgill/every-action-is-a-losing-a-letting-go-a-passing-away-from-oneself-of/) Arthur C. McGill > [A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/a-truly-christian-love-either-to-god-or-men-is-a-humble-broken/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“It has hindered where it might have helped; it has been evasive when it was morally bound to be forthright; it has separated believers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-has-hindered-where-it-might-have-helped-it-has-been-evasive-when/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Why should we believe in God? We hate Christianity and Christians. Even the best of them must be regarded as our worst enemies. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-burton-winrod/why-should-we-believe-in-god-we-hate-christianity-and-christians-even/) Gerald Burton Winrod > [As believers in Christ, we are part of Him-God the Father decided before the foundation of the world that anyone who loved Christ would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/as-believers-in-christ-we-are-part-of-him-god-the-father-decided/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [There is nothing you can do that will make God stop loving you. You could try, but you simply can't do it - because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-is-nothing-you-can-do-that-will-make-god-stop-loving-you-you/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) [Browse all 156 Christian love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joshua Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-commitment/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-commitment/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/joshua-harris-8529_christian-love_the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-com_1323868.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.” — Joshua Harris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joshua Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The joy of intimacy is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-commitment/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/the-joy-of-intimacy-is-the-reward-of-commitment/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```