In the past two years I've been on the emotional roller coaster that many singles in their twenties find themselves upon. I've gone through heart break, I've considered celibacy, I've been desperate, I've been satisfied, the list could go on! Where is there peace in the midst of this precious season of singleness? This fall, I really began to think much of this subject. Many of my friends had just broken up with boyfriends or were going through breakups. I, finally felt ready to start dating again and was wondering where all the knights in shining armour were staying. So, I began to seriously ask the question, what can all of these single, young people offer that others in the church cannot?
1 Corinthians 7 has become an extremely precious chapter to me, a chapter which I used to avoid for fear of what on earth it was trying to tell it's audience. I would certainly encourage one to read the entire chapter and the entire book if possible. This will allow you to read those frightening verses from the context which Paul intended. Verse 32 states, "but I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord - how he may please the Lord." Verse 34, "there is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world - how she may please her husband." Verse 35, "and this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction."
Paul, clearly, is a great example to us as one who truly loved singleness. He goes as far as saying, "for I wish that all men were even as I myself," single! Being single allows you "to be without care." Nobody is waiting for you to make them dinner, do their laundry, or relying on you to bring home the money for bread and butter. It's just you. What are you going to do with this free time in your schedule and this freedom in your mind? You are free to care for the things of the Lord alone, if you choose. You are free to spend hours in prayer, to study the Word in great depth, to involve yourself greatly in the church. To spend your time caring of how you may please the Lord, not a man or a woman at your side. You can spend yourself striving for holiness in body and in spirit. You can commit yourself to not look upon anything unclean, to not listen mindlessly to that which does not glorify Christ, to not touch that which is not yours to touch. This can be an intense season of preparation for the bridegrooms return, and possibly for your earthly bridegrooms arrival into your life. You truly have been given a gift, the ability to serve Christ free from distraction.
This gift, I believe, is one of the most neglected gifts amongst the church today. When we see one who is single in their twenties our minds are searching for a reason. We switch into counsellor mode. Maybe they are socially awkward? Maybe their past is holding them back? Maybe there is a lack of options for them? There must be something wrong! Oh that we would become living examples of how precious this season in their lives is! I truly believe that singles in the church need those who are married, and those who are married are in need of those who are single. Those who are married must be a constant example and reminder of how the church is meant to be in relationship with Christ. Those who are single, should be a continual reminder to those who are married of how life will be once again, at the end of the age. Scripture is clear that once Jesus returns, there will be no more marriage. We will be "as the angels." Once again free from distraction to care only about the things of Christ.
Now, I do not want to come across oblivious of human emotion. Men were created to be attracted to woman, and woman to man. To ask a generation of single adults to never ponder upon marriage is ridiculous! I, myself, greatly look forward to the day when I will be married to a man who challenges me daily to die to myself. What a great opportunity to draw nearer to Christ! My point is not to provoke one to never desire marriage but rather to not waste the current season in which you are called to walk in. How dreadful the thought of attempting to explain wasted minutes and days to God before His throne. Don't waste this time, treasure it.
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