Protracted Singleness (2)
1 Corinthians 7:32-38 I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord’s work. He is trying to please the Lord. But a man who is married is busy with things of the world. He is trying to please his wife. He must think about two things—pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord. A woman who is not married or a girl who has never married is busy with the Lord’s work. She wants to give herself fully—body and spirit—to the Lord. But a married woman is busy with things of the world. She is trying to please her husband. I am saying this to help you. I am not trying to limit you, but I want you to live in the right way. And I want you to give yourselves fully to the Lord without giving your time to other things.
Today I’d like to share a profound word about those who remain single. Now perhaps you’re not, but doubtless you know someone who is. If so, perhaps you can share today’s message with them.
Whether we like to admit it or not, those who are married have the tendency to look down upon those who aren’t. Have you ever found yourself wondering … what’s the matter with him? … why is she still single?
In Japan for instance, the derogatory term for a single woman is “stale Christmas cake”. But we’re not picking on the Japanese here. That tendency to wonder what’s the matter with adult singles cuts across all cultures. And it’s that tendency that I’d like to see snuffed out in our hearts today:
1 Corinthians 7:32-38 I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord’s work. He is trying to please the Lord. But a man who is married is busy with things of the world. He is trying to please his wife. He must think about two things—pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord. A woman who is not married or a girl who has never married is busy with the Lord’s work. She wants to give herself fully—body and spirit—to the Lord. But a married woman is busy with things of the world. She is trying to please her husband. I am saying this to help you. I am not trying to limit you, but I want you to live in the right way. And I want you to give yourselves fully to the Lord without giving your time to other things.
Don’t look down upon those who are single. Theirs is by far the higher calling!
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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