Some thoughts for singles
Tonight in Orange County we will talk about “The Biblical Worldview on Singleness, Marriage, and Divorce.”
Why Divorce?
Because Jesus addressed it in the text we will look at in the Sermon on the Mount. I want to try to help you to do everything possible to avoid that potential divorce, and that starts with the person you choose to be your spouse.
The fact is that singles often envy those who are married. And married people often envy those who are single. It’s been said, “Marriage is like flies on a screen door; those on the outside want in, and those on the inside want out!”
The fact is there are advantages and disadvantages to both marriage and singleness. Given a choice, I would pick marriage any day of the week. That’s a “no-brainer!”
Advantages of Singleness
However, there are advantages to being single as well. For starters, you have mobility. The apostle Paul wrote:
“When you’re unmarried, you’re free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse, leading to so many more demands on your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God. I’m trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions.” (1 Cor 7:32-35, THE MESSAGE)
Paul is not critical of the person who wants to “please their spouse”. You are supposed to do that and “love each other.” But when you are single, you can point your affections toward Jesus even more!
Contentment
So, we need to learn to BE CONTENT where we are right now. The Apostle Paul said “I have found in whatever state I’m in to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your way of living be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want . . . ”
Your contentment comes from who you know (Jesus), not what you have, or if you are married or single.
More on this topic later.
For more info on the O.C. Bible study, click here.
