Last night we concluded our study of God’s Wisdom in our relationships by looking at the New Testament teaching on singleness. Here are the notes:
Paul’s concerns in 1 Corinthians 7
7:1 Should people abstain from marriage and all sexual activity in order to be truly spiritual?
7:2-7 Abstaining from sexual activity is good for the unmarried, but not the married.
7:8-9 …or if people aren’t controlling themselves. Marriage is no sin, but fornication is.
7:10-16 We don’t dissolve marriages in order to be spiritual, even a marriage to a non-believer.
The Point: Marriage or Singleness doesn’t affect your ability to be spiritual. (See v.7: there is a gift of singleness and a gift of marriage.)
7:17-24 You can serve Christ in any state.
17 as God has “distributed” to us our situation, but our “call” is to Christ (1:9, 24). Live out life in that situation = you don’t have to seek a change…
21-22 Don’t “worry” about the status of slave: you are freed in Christ. [The Roman empire had a system of slavery that was based on economics (if you fell in to debt) or politics (if you were conquered in war). Many of the early Christians were slaves who had believed in Christ.] So if the opportunity presents itself, get physically “free,” and remember you’re Christ’s slave
The Point: If a change in status presents itself, there are times when it’s good to take, but we don’t need to let it concern us, because the most important thing is that we’re called by Christ. Our relationship to Christ redefines and transforms all other relationships, situations, and statuses.
7:25-31 The same goes for marital status
25-28 we don’ need to “seek” a change in our status. i.e. – expend our energy or drive to get married. (he may be speaking to the “betrothed” or not betrothed when he says “bound” or “loosed”) (Matt 6:31-33)
29-31 Everyone, married or not, needs to let eternity, and their calling in Christ, dictate how they live. But notice: if the opportunity presents itself…
7:32-35 But there are some advantages to singleness
- You are freed up from concern with some physical matters to serve the Lord (32-34) “distraction.”
- You don’t have another person to attend to.
- This can be a profit, it’s not a leash (35).
- See 9:5+15; Paul gave up marriage.
See also: Matt 19:10-12, Is 56:4-5, Luke 18:28-30
Summing It Up:
- Singleness may be chosen, but you don’t have to feel forced into it.
- While you are single, the point of it is for you to use the time for Christ.
- It’s not for a prolonged adolescence.
- It is a particular kind of freedom: time, money, emotional attachment; only one mind to make up, only one heart to guard, no one to let down or leave behind.
- Singleness is a gift.
- If we really believe God, we’ll believe what He says about blessing and reward.
- If you can’t change your circumstance immediately, God is giving you a gift of sometime before you get married. It is time for you to use for Him. You shouldn’t worry about your circumstances or spend your energy trying to change them. Seek the kingdom of God, and wait for Him to add a husband or wife to you. And when that person become obvious, you don’t have to worry that you’re sinning or demoting yourself spiritually. Let your calling in Christ define your marriage, and get married!
Four quick applications:
- Don’t stress your singleness. Seek Christ and His kingdom and serve Him where you are.
- Use your singles while you have it. Redeem this time!
- Believe God—that you will never truly sacrifice anything.
- Let your calling in Christ define all your circumstances.