2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Today, I am led to write about the single life as it relates to our covenant relationship with God. While it’s true that most of us get married, there is no place in the Scriptures which says that is the only normal or desirable way to live. If we believe that, then it’s a line which our worldly society has fed us; it didn’t come from God. Let me begin by citing 1 JN 1: 7, a verse that appears in John’s writing in a passage on God is light. This verse speaks of one aspect of the “koininea” relationship that is part of the oneness of living under the Covenant of Grace. Remember that the Greek word, “koininea,” refers to that eternal, unbreakable bond that exists between a believer, God, and other believers. “But if we live in the light-just as He is in the light-then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from every sin.” To my way of thinking that erases all reasons for demonstrating prejudice against anyone who is faithful, whether married or single. The blood of Jesus has sealed not only the covenant itself, but it has sealed us in a protective, caring, loving, and responsible relationship with God and all other believers. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we should care only about believers. We should love and care about all mankind, especially in view of the fact that we never know that our actions might not cause an unbeliever to accept the Holy Spirit’s invitation to come to faith.
Christ in MT 19: 12 gives us insight into God’s will concerning people who remain single. “For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so.” What is meant by “some were born that way” is that some people are born with the predisposition not to marry. This need not be looked upon as an abnormality in any way. There are people, and I have friends like this, who are happier living on their own than they would be in a marriage. Many singles that I know spend their lives serving God in the most marvelous ways. Some of these people have entered into marriages, only to have them fail because they missed their independence. There was no evil here, only a mistake most likely in response to societal pressure to marry. There is no reason to assume that people in this category can’t serve God well either.
In describing what is meant in MT 19: 12 by “men made them that way,” we need to go back to an old practice that thankfully has been dropped in modern times. I refer to the practice of castrating some males, making them eunuchs to serve in royal palaces. This was done even in Paul’s time so that these males would have no desire to run away from their jobs to seek companionship and sexual union with women. One very compelling story that comes to mind is that of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch from AC 8: 26-39, which I hope you will read. As Phillip was returning to Gaza from Jerusalem where he had been worshipping, he was riding in a carriage reading the book of Isaiah. The Holy Spirit spoke to him telling him to “go over to another carriage and drive close to it” (29). Phillip could see that an Ethiopian eunuch who was the treasurer of the queen of Ethiopia was also reading Isaiah in his carriage. The Holy Spirit prompted Phillip to stop and speak to this man, asking him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied that he needed someone to explain it to him, and Phillip was invited to climb into the Ethiopian’s carriage to explain it. At the time, the eunuch was reading IS 53: 7-8 which describes the Messiah and His suffering leading up to the cross. As a result, Phillip told the eunuch the Gospel about Jesus, and the eunuch came to faith and was baptized. The eunuch then continued on his way full of joy.
The last example Christ gave in MT 19: 12 is that of those not marrying “for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.” Paul makes it clear in 1 COR 7 that he was writing at time where there was plenty of trouble both from within and without for the early Christian church. That was one reason why he wanted people to know about his own suffering. God led him to make the choice to remain unmarried and prompted him to write about his reasons in 1 COR 7: 32-34. “I would like you to be free from worry. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord’s work, because he is trying to please the Lord. but a married man concerns himself with worldly matters, because he wants to please his wife; and so, he is pulled in two directions. And unmarried woman or a virgin concerns herself with the Lord’s work, because she wants to be dedicated both in body and in spirit; but a married woman concerns herself with worldly matters, because she wants to please her husband.” Now, this didn’t mean Paul was down on marriage; it just revealed what God had put in his mind about it, especially in view of the hard times he faced. This latter idea is supported by 1 COR 7: 29a & 35, “What I mean, my brothers, is there is not much time left…I am saying this because I want to help you. I am not trying to put restrictions on you. Instead, I want you to do what is right and proper, and to give yourselves completely to the Lord’s service without any reservation.” Paul’s life is certainly one lived for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. I’m sure that he is one of many who have chosen to remain single for that reason. It is my believe that we should look without prejudice at our relationships with single people in our lives, especially those who are believers, and see if we can bring this understanding from the Scriptures to them.
PRAYER: O Lord, You pour Your light upon us, and we are grateful. We acknowledge the privilege You have brought into our lives by sharing Your perspective which can, if we will let it, dissolve prejudice and evil. If we are to understand Your teaching regarding the single life, we will no longer summarily assume that being single isn’t being normal, simply because more adults marry than remain single. You have given us reasons in MT 19:12 for people choosing to remain single which are ones acceptable to You. Therefore, they should be acceptable to us. By the relationships that You bring into our lives with single believers, You demonstrate how they reveal Your glory by how they live their lives. That is why You have called all believers into the covenant relationship with You and each other. It is also why You have brought us into koininea. When a non-believer is single, we must understand that this person deserves our prayers. For some day, You might call him/her to faith. If that person is a practicing homosexual, then he too deserves our prayers. That is because You hate the lifestyle, but not the person. We must pray that this person will turn away from his sin and come to faith. We thank You for this teaching and dedicate ourselves to viewing the single life as You view it. Each day, You bless our lives with Your presence and with the knowledge of the great sacrifice You made of Your only Son for us. We revel in the hope of the resurrection and in eternal life to follow resulting from it. We humbly approach Your altar with our adoration, worship, loyalty, trust, obedience, glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Tomorrow, I am led to write about the transition from skepticism to fullness of a life in Christ. If we understand that even the most unexpected people like the Ethiopian eunuch of AC 8 can be brought by the Holy Spirit to faith, we can begin to appreciate why we shouldn’t question God’s actions in people’s lives. So many people when ill or troubled lash out at God. This is so wrong, because God never brings evil to people’s lives. While he may allow something bad to happen, it is always for righteous reasons. That is why we must recognize Him for the loving Abba that He is. We have never had a better Friend in our lives than that Lord Jesus. He and the Father enrich our lives every day with Their love and blessings for each of us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn