The Gift of Singleness: A Liberating Truth
As I reflect on my own life, I am reminded of the profound impact that singleness has had on me. My mother’s passing in a bus collision near Bethlehem in Israel in 1974 left an indelible mark on my family. Yet, even in the midst of grief, God brought another wonderful wife into my father’s life, teaching me to cherish the gift of relationships.
However, this experience also made me take seriously Jesus’ words to the Sadducees about marriage in the resurrection. When asked whose wife a woman would be if she had been widowed seven times, Jesus replied, “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Mark 12:25).
This truth has far-reaching implications for singleness in this life. If marriage as we know it will not exist in the resurrection, then singleness here will not be a disadvantage in eternity. In fact, the self-denial involved in singleness could make one a candidate for greater capacities for love in the age to come.
The Freedom of Singleness
Many unmarried people have discovered the liberating truth of singleness. Trevor Douglas, a single missionary, wrote, “In the end, Christians know that Jesus will more than make up for every cost incurred by being a single male missionary.” He saw a tremendous exchange taking place in eternity, where the social cost of not fitting in would be exchanged for socializing with Jesus around his throne.
Similarly, Paul wrote that he wished everyone could know the freedom for ministry that he enjoyed as a single person (1 Corinthians 7:7). He explained that an unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs, while a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world.
The Myth of Singleness as Abnormality
Unfortunately, single people are often treated as abnormal in the church. The only text people can think of is Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” But this statement was made before the fall, and our world is vastly different today. Sometimes, it is good for a person to be alone, and almost no one has to be really alone.
The Gift of Relationships
As a general rule, it is not good for man or woman to be alone. God created us to function within relationships. Many married people are very much alone emotionally, while single people can find meaningful connections with others. Mature femininity and masculinity do not express themselves in the same way toward every person, but they can be lived out in practical ways in all relationships.
Conclusion
Singleness is not a curse, but a gift from God. It is a liberating truth that allows us to focus on the Lord’s affairs and live out our mature masculinity and femininity in practical ways. Let us celebrate the gift of singleness and the freedom it brings, rather than viewing it as an abnormality.
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