The Gift in Singleness

“But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.” -1 Corinthians 7:7

Paul talks in 1 Corinthians about the question of whether it is better to be married or single. He expresses the idea that it’s okay to be married, but to not seek out a relationship if you’re single.  (1 Cor 7: 27)

I believe as a culture we’ve done a great disservice to people who are single.  Our churches are filled with families, and often the church can become a “meat market” for getting into relationship with someone.  We may feel pressured to be in a relationship in order to fit in.  We may fear being alone. But, the time when we’re single is in fact our greatest opportunity to serve God and develop a deeper relationship with Him.  (1 Cor 7:32-35) 

Many of us had family situations that were less than ideal growing up. We might have been given a blueprint to look for a dysfunctional mate as a result of our upbringing.  Or, we might still be looking to resolve issues of love, acceptance, and value by getting into relationship with other people, when we need to look to God for that unconditional love and acceptance.

What are some of the things you can do while you are single to prepare for God’s future blessings in your life?

• Set out to discover your personality, gifts and talents, and most of all your passion
• Find places to serve God, in your church and community - perhaps even abroad
• Further your skills by investing in training or education
• Develop kingdom relationships with people who have similar desires

Treasure the time you have while you are single.  It is a gift, just as much as being married is a gift.  When you honor God with everything you have and seek Him, He will honor you in that.  We find that when we delight ourselves in God, He will give us the desires of our heart.  (Ps 37:4)

Wholehearted Faith

"I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God." -Joshua 14:7-8
 
Caleb was a scout for the tribe of Israel.  He went into the land God had promised Israel with 11 other scouts to see what was there.  Caleb was the only one who came back with a positive report, in spite of the obstacles they saw.  He trusted in God, and if God said He was going to deliver the land to the Israelites, well, he believed Him! 

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!" -Numbers 13:30 

The trouble was, he had a hard time convincing the people, and the other 10 scouts who saw things differently.  "But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. 'We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!'"  (Numbers 13:31) The people talked about stoning Caleb and also Joshua, who agreed with Caleb.  Because the Israelites did not trust God, they could not go into the promised land for another 40 years, so the generation that did not believe could die out. But, after those 40 years, Joshua and Caleb were allowed to go with the younger generation, and God blessed Caleb for his wholehearted faith in God by giving him land. (Numbers 14:13& 14) 

Would you say you are wholeheartedly seeking and serving God?  If you haven't been, pray to Him and ask for forgiveness, and tell Him that you are willing to serve him with your whole heart.  We don't have to be afraid to serve God wholeheartedly - He has the best in store for us, and he will reward us for our obedience. 

Are you serving God wholeheartedly today?