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Week 2 | Day 9: 3 Mar - Singleness


Scripture:

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

(1 Corinthians 7:32-35)


Devotion:

While marriage is God’s general will for mankind, it is not the only way to live out our identity as God’s image-bearers. Those who are single can live an equally fulfilling life before God. Due to society’s expectations, not many people would necessarily choose singleness for themselves, nor is it always understood by others. Some remain single because they could not find a suitable partner; others find themselves single again through divorce or bereavement; still others who are ‘same-sex attracted’ choose to remain single as they believe it is biblically the right thing to do.


Not getting married when you want to can raise many questions about both the goodness of God and one’s own self-worth. Singles may wonder why no one has chosen them or why God has denied them the precious gift of a life-partner and parenthood. The biblical teaching that sex should be kept within the marriage relationship also makes living out the Christian faith in our sex-saturated world very challenging as singles.


Of course, there are those who are willingly single. These do not feel any pressure to be married and find their fulfilment in the joy of serving Christ (whether in church or in the public arena). Like what the Apostle Paul said in today’s passage, freed from the responsibility of caring for spouse and family, they can be more passionate and devoted to the Lord’s work. They may still be open to the possibility of marriage, but their primary concern is to give themselves to serving God without reservation.


Regardless, the only way to live well as singles is to rest in the unconditional love of God and surrender oneself to his good and perfect will. The church also has a big role to play to care for single people in our midst. Single people who have good support network, are socially active and anchored in family ties, church friendships and other close relationships often thrive in life. For single people, the call is to fix their eyes fully on Jesus and delight themselves in him, knowing that his will is good and perfect, even if not exactly what they had in mind. At the heart of everything is the core issue of knowing our identity in Christ and of finding our needs met in the One who truly is the lover of our souls.


Reflections:

(1) What joys or challenges do singles have?

(2) How can the church help our singles develop supportive relationships?

(3) How are you growing in your awareness of being loved unconditionally by God?


Prayer:

Today we remember the singles in our midst: help them to live well before you, being anchored in your unconditional love and your perfect will. We pray for ourselves as a church to be sensitive and attentive to their needs and so be to them a strong support of love and friendship. Amen.

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