Beth-El Baptist Church

04/11/2010

Greg Tomlinson


What does the Christian single life look like?


There are many people who believe that married life is to be preferred over the single life. There are other questions related to the identity of single people and the prospects for marriage.


  1. What are some designations of single people?

1 Corinthians 7:8-11; 7:25


Paul identifies the unmarried and the widow in a way that links them together indicating that they have some things in common. Most likely the term unmarried is used by Paul to indicate someone who was previously married. A separate designation of singleness is the virgin. The virgin is someone who has never been intimately involved with anyone.


  1. How should they view married life and singled life?

1 Corinthians 7:17, 7:27-28; 7:36-37 Matthew 19:9-12

Genesis 1:28


Both singleness and married life are gifts from God. One is for the purpose of bearing and raising children as well as personal intimacy with their spouse. The other for greater dedication to serving the Lord. Regardless of being married or single, it is important to remain faithful and committed to serve the Lord first and foremost.


  1. What are some unique challenges to single life?

1 Corinthians 6:18-19; 7:1-2; 7:8-11; 7:16; 7:26-27

Proverbs 21:19 1 Samuel 1:6

Genesis 30:1-2 1 Timothy 5:1-2


One challenge of single life is remaining pure and chaste for the Lord. For many single people, a desire to get married can be strong. Often the desire for marriage is not because they feel called by God for marriage but external pressure of various sorts can enhance the desire to be married. Paul encourages those who are single not to seek after a spouse. One reason not to seek after a spouse is that there is often a mindset to marry whoever may ask, regardless of whether or not they are a believer in Jesus Christ. It happens when the single person seeks to get married that they end up marrying someone that is contentious and creates a life of havoc. The challenges can often be greater for someone who was previously married. They have been in an intimate relationship before and miss the intimacy. For some, there can be envy for those who are married and have children. They desire to have what their friends have.


  1. What are some unique blessings in life?

1 Corinthians 7:33-35 Luke 2:36-37

Matthew 8:14


The primary blessing of singleness is the ability to be used of God in ways and times that married people cannot. Because of his singleness, Paul was able to be bolder in his Christian witness because he did not have a spouse to worry about protecting and providing for. He did not have to worry about how reactions to his preaching would affect his wife nor would he have to worry about his wife's nor his in-law's health and care issues as well.


  1. How then is the single life to be conducted?

Matthew 6:24-34 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

John 6:27-29 2 Timothy 4:1-5


The life of the single person is to be lived out seeking God. Seeking His divine guidance and His divine presence. It includes the proclamation of the Gospel, ministering to others, drawing closer to God for service.


The single life provides many opportunities to serve God by serving others with fewer reasons for not entering into serving by ministering. The Lord has called each of us to serve according to the gifts that he has given. It could be that the single person has a particular call from God and can only be properly executed while remaining single.