Day 1 – To Be Single or Not to Be Single?
Do I want to be married or stay single? That is a question every young person will ask. No one wants to go through life alone. However, some people are able to. But for the Christian, this question is even weightier. Unlike what the world believes, marriage is forever. The world would have you to believe that it’s OK for a Christian to be divorced and remarried, but God’s Word says differently.
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. (Mar 10:11)
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. (Mar 10:12)
This month, we will discuss what the Word has to say about being single, dating, being engaged, marriage, divorce and remarriage. God instructs His people quite clearly, although man has added his own teaching and opinion. This was true even in Moses’ time. Marriage is so serious and so permanent that God put it in the Ten Commandments. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exo 20:14) …thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife…(Exo 20:17) Also, fornication (which is sex before marriage) was spoken of 28 times in the New Testament alone! Just because the Ten Commandments are in the Old Testament, it does not mean that we are not obligated to follow them. God thinks purity before marriage is just as important as fidelity after marriage, my friend.
The Law (the Ten Commandments) reveal our sin to us. Once we acknowledge our sin before a Holy God, we are pointed to a need for a Saviour through our Lord Jesus Christ. When it comes to finding out how to live a godly single life as a believer, the Word says it best. Here are some good verses to ponder:
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (1 Cor 7:1) Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. (1 Cor 7:2) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. (1 Cor 7:7)
Not everyone is called of God to remain single. But for those who are single, God’s Word says it is “do-able” through Christ.
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. (1 Cor 7:8) But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (1 Cor 7:9)
Notice how serious Paul says it is here? Fornication for the single person will cause him to burn! The sins from the Old Testament are alive and well in the New Testament. God views fornication as sin and deals with it severely! The unbelieving world obviously doesn’t care about this. It is rare to find people who remain pure until marriage.
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: (1 Cor 7:32) But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. (1 Cor 7:33) There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (1 Cor 7:34)
Paul said it was good to be single. However, one should be married in order to avoid fornication. Paul encouraged the believer to remain single because when one is single they can care for the things of the Lord and not of the world. A single person does not have to worry about staying out longer on his bus route or soul winning. A single person does not have to check with his spouse if he wants to go straight to a Bible study after work.
Being chaste and pure in today’s world is certainly a battle. Television splashes immodest commercials and shows at every turn. To win this battle means the Christian must be totally devoted to the cause of Christ and walking closely beside Him. Being pure is do-able, my friend! The world would have you think that the Christian cannot contain himself. The world would have you think that there is no way you can abstain from fornication. The Word heals all things and the Word will keep the single Christian on the right path if the single Christian turns to it. You’ve heard the saying, “The Bible will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from the Bible.” There is not a truer statement.
One of the major hurdles a single Christian today must overcome is controlling their thought life. It’s the mind that sets the groundwork for sin. When we nurture a lustful thought and dwell on it, you can be sure it will end in sin. A few good verses that would be worth committing to memory are:
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Pro 16:3)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phi 4:8)
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; (Mar 7:18)
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mar 7:23)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jam 4:7)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 Jo 4:4)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor 10:13) I have personally heard from the mouth of a single Christian that they did not think they could remain chaste and pure until marriage. This verse says otherwise. If the Christian does not put himself in a situation where he will stumble, he won’t. If the Christian protects his thought life, he won’t be busy thinking of what he can’t do but of what he CAN do with the help of Christ. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phi 4:13)
Oh single Christian, you can remain pure and chaste until marriage. The devil would have you to believe that you cannot but he is the father of lies (John 8:44). It’s a mind set and a heart set. Stay away from situations which will cause you to stumble.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Pro 4:23)
The devil wants you to be weak. But we serve the King of kings, the Lord of lords! We serve a mighty God. Would our God lie to you? Of course not. But Satan surely would. You CAN do ALL things through Christ because He WILL strengthen you. Don’t fall for the devil’s lies, my friend.
In closing, let me leave you with a thought. It is better to remain single than to go down the aisle with the wrong person. Marriage can be sweet and heavenly when it is with the person God has picked for you. Being married to anyone other than the one God picked for you will give you a mediocre marriage. You will go through greater trials and tribulations. All marriages have trials and tribulations. However, when you’re married to the one God has picked for you, there are greater blessings as a result of these trials.
Take heed to the warnings you have read. God gave Eve to Adam – let Him give your mate to you. Wait on the Lord – and if God desires you to be single, accept His will for your life and serve Him to your utmost.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psa 27:14)
Dear God…
Help my thoughts be focused on You
When temptation comes my way
Encourage my heart as I read Your Word
So my thought life is pure today
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