To be or not to be, that is the question!
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
36 But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. 37 But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. 38 So the person who marries his fiancée does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord. 40 But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.
Paul was single and this gave him the freedom to go wherever he needed, preach wherever he was led, to stay as long as he wanted, etc. … Singleness gave Paul a freedom that those who are married and with children do not have.
However, our children are also an opportunity to be our greatest disciples. It requires all of us to be in Church and Community, to teach them to read the Bible for themselves, teach them to pray, hear God’s voice and walk with Him. We need to teach them to have faith in God as their provider, healer, confidant, Lord, saviour and friend, etc…
God calls all of us at different seasons to different things.
Paul saw his life as better and more focussed because he was single. For me, I feel my greatest disciples have been my children. Neither is better just different.
Let’s all be passionate to become all God has called us to be and instil that in our children.
Lord Jesus, thank you for our children. Continue to do a mighty work in them. Help them to Fear God and Honour you in all they do and are. Jesus, we pray for those among us who are single. We ask that they would be connected and embraced by our Church community. Help us all to fulfil your calling on our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Written by Ps. Sue Botta