Whilst being single, you need to remember that you are already in a relationship with the most important person we know, Jesus. So, with Him being your priority and pleasing Him your goal, what a blessing it is to give Him our full attention. Please read 1 Corinthians 7:29-35, where we will discover Paul’s second and third advantages to being single.
‘What I mean, my friends, is this: there is not much time left, and from now on married people should live as though they were not married; those who weep, as though they were not sad; those who laugh, as though they were not happy; those who buy, as though they did not own what they bought; those who deal in material goods, as though they were not fully occupied with them. For this world, as it is now, will not last much longer’. 1 Corinthians 7:29
In light of the fleeting nature of the world, Paul challenges us to live with the end in mind. Looking at these three verses, notice the two key phrases that bracket 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.
1. ‘The time has been shortened,’ 1 Corinthians 7:29.
2. ‘This world is passing away,’ 1 Corinthians 7:31.
The first phrase, ‘the time has been shortened,’ reminds us of the brevity of life. No one lives forever on planet Earth. You may live thirty, forty or fifty years. Who knows? You may live eighty or ninety years, but sooner or later you’re going to die.
And no matter how long you live, you’re going to be dead a lot longer than you’re going to be alive. If you doubt that, just check out the nearest cemetery. Every grave is proof that the time is short.
The second phrase, ‘this world is passing away,’ comes from a Greek expression that means something like ‘this world is but a shadow of reality.’ Everything we see is fleeting and insubstantial. The metaphor, perhaps, is drawn from the shifting scenes in a theatre. The idea is that this life is here one moment and gone the next. It’s similar to our sitcoms and movies that must change scenes every couple of seconds.
This life isn’t all there is; therefore, single-minded singleness has its advantages. So, the time is short, and the world is passing away. What follows from this truth? Matthew Henry says that we should live with ‘holy indifference’ to the things of this world. 1 Corinthians 29-31 flesh this point in five different ways.
1. With regard to our intimate relationships:
Now there’s a verse you don’t hear quoted at many weddings. It simply means enjoy your marriage, but don’t make your marriage the most important thing in your life.
2. With regard to afflictions:
Again, this simply means do not be so overcome with grief that you act as if God doesn’t have the final word.
3. With regard to pleasure:
Great times are great, but Paul reminds us not to get so caught up in joy that we forget that suffering is right around the corner. In everything you do, don’t forget about eternal realities.
4. With regard to purchases:
When you do make purchases, be a wise steward. Don’t spend carelessly on the world’s toys and trinkets. And what you do purchase, hold loosely. Be careful, lest the things you possess end up possessing you. Acknowledge that you are a steward and the Master may call for what He has given you.
5. With regard to all earthly concerns:
Use the world, enjoy the world, live in the world, work in the world, buy and sell in the world, but do not let the world rule your life. The message is clear and unmistakable.
You won’t be here forever, so enjoy life, live it to the fullest, take advantage of every moment, but don’t indulge yourself so much that you lose your focus on what really matters. Singles have the potential to maintain spiritual priorities. One of the reasons that this is the case is because of Paul’s third advantage.
Paul expresses the reality that marriage requires being absorbed in the ‘concerns’ of one’s spouse and encourages singles in their devotion to Christ. Paul acknowledges that married people are concerned about their spouse, and rightly so!
If they are not, they will not find themselves in a happy marriage. Marriage requires immense sacrifice, time, and energy. Thus, Paul’s point is that the marriage relationship can keep us from devoting ourselves more fully to Christ.
For example, we must balance our devotion to our spouse, children, and God. Yet, at the same time, be so consumed with God that every area of our lives is well-balanced. Remember, single-minded singleness has its advantages.
Dr John Murray was once a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, who, because of creeping liberalism in that institution, joined with a number of other fine scholars to found Westminster Theological Seminary. John Murray served on the faculty there for many decades as Professor of Theology, writing many excellent books that have served the church well for decades.
A lifelong bachelor, he finally retired at age seventy-five, moved back to his homeland of Scotland, and married a woman about half his age. Less than two years later, they had a child. I think he felt that he had given God the best seventy-five years of his life; now it was time to have a little fun. Unfortunately, his heart couldn’t take all that excitement, and a few years later, he died.
Granted, this is a most unusual case, but it demonstrates that it’s possible to honour God with singleness if you have the gift, and then marry at a later time. Single-minded singleness has its advantages, and not having a spouse and or children to worry about means more time spent devoted to God.
Please write down your own thoughts on this part of the lesson whilst they are fresh in your mind.
These questions are designed to help you think through the topic discussed so that you may have a true view of yourself.
1. What do YOU like about being single?
2. Why would it be beneficial to YOU to remain single?
3. Would it be beneficial to YOU to enter a relationship?
4. Would it be beneficial for your MATE for YOU to enter a relationship with them?
5. Do YOU believe that entering a relationship right now would change your priorities?
6. In what ways do you believe that entering a relationship would cause YOU to be distracted?
We will discuss: Despite the misconception that some singles have, they really do have the option of marriage. We will see that being single means you can serve others more and focus on building a more solid foundation in our relationship with God, who is actually helping us develop skills for that future relationship without us realising it. We will also look at how being single is a blessing in our everyday schedules.
Please read 1 Corinthians 7:36-40 / Matthew 5:32 / Matthew 19:9 / 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 / Galatians 5:13.