Some Thoughts on Singleness – Part 1

There are many attitudes towards the issue of singleness, and some of them can be unhelpful, and even harmful. I would like to share a few thoughts, today and tomorrow. In his belief that the days were urgent for committed service to the Lord, Paul personally saw singleness as an advantage. In a very forthright way he wrestled with the cost and the benefit of married life, not opposing marriage, but concluding that the state of singleness, such as his own, could give an advantage.

Earlier in the chapter containing today`s verse Paul implies that his own ability to be settled with, and indeed delight in, a life of singleness was a personal gift from God. A specific gifting for this way of living may indeed be experienced by some believers as they seek to walk in the destiny of their lives. However for many single people such a calling and gifting are not personally evident, as they hold in their hearts a rightful desire to be married, whether this is for the first time or after loss of a spouse.

Marriage is good, God-ordained, an expression of covenant and a safe place for procreation. It is not wrong to look forward to these things, but the challenge is to find true peace with God whether in singleness or in marriage. In fact it’s important, within the Body of Christ for all of us to fully respect both states, seeing neither as inferior nor undesirable, but fully welcoming each other as valid members of God’s family, each of us sometimes needing kindness and help from others, in both words and actions.

Prayer: Father God, remind me to see all my married and single brothers and sisters as precious members of the Body of Christ, each one needing encouragement to fulfil their personal destiny in the challenging journey of faith. Amen.