Last summer, the pastors at my church began to teach through 1 Corinthians. It's taken many months, but we've now arrived at the seventh chapter, which addresses singleness. Two weeks ago, Jeff Purswell, who serves Sovereign Grace Ministries as the dean of our Pastors College, opened his sermon by poking fun at the ominous disclaimers that always follow the sunny optimism of TV drug advertisements. Then he drew a comparison to this text (1 Corinthians 7:8-9; 25-38), joking about the need for disclaimers: "This text is extremely vulnerable to misinterpretation. Any sermon preached on this text is guaranteed to be misunderstood by some and may well offend many. Teachers who preach this text will likely receive angry emails and may never again be asked to preach in this church."
Despite the risks, Jeff did a great job of setting up the background of this letter, the false theologies that were prevalent in Corinthian culture, and the wise pastoral counsel that Paul provides to the various segments of the Corinthian church. He also had his own disclaimers as he began to talk about singleness.
"We won't from this text be able to provide an exhaustive treatment on everything that the Bible says about singleness. We can't say everything. This text doesn't intend to provide an exhaustive treatment on singleness. Paul is responding to a particular situation in Corinth. He's not writing a book or giving a seminar on singleness or marriage or courtship or anything like that. . . What this text does do, and it does so powerfully, is that it affirms the goodness of singleness. It's not a subpar existence. It also shows us the benefits that come when God calls a person to live, or so arranges that a person live, their life without a spouse, be that for a season of life, or a SEASON of life, or all of life. . . Here's how I would sum it up: Singleness, when given by God, and pursued for God, brings glory to God. The single life is a reality for many people. This text shows us it's not an inferior reality. It's not an inferior mode of existence. When God calls someone to life as a single, and when they walk it out in His power, which He promises to provide, and when they walk it out for His glory, then the single life--like married life--can be, it SHOULD be, fulfilling and fruitful and most importantly, God-glorifying."
Jeff hammered this point again in his closing comments, making sure that people understood that singleness lived for the glory of one's self or for the pleasures of one's comforts is not a biblical option. But then he ministered encouragement for all of us singles who would desire the gift of marriage but know we must be fruitful and effective in our singleness right now.
"Singleness is not the preferred option for self-absorbed Christians. Singleness is an opportunity for undivided devotion to Christ. . . Both the married and the unmarried state are God-given gifts to be used for His glory and for His purpose. But Paul is acknowledging here that celibacy does offer unique ways to serve. It's not better or worse, it's unique. So the question for the single person is: Are you using your singleness this way? Celibacy is not necessarily a permanent state. . . The Bible never speaks of a vow of celibacy. . . In your present state--and for those living their lives under the sovereignty God, which we all are--if you are single now, that's God's call for you right now. . . Godly marriage and chaste singleness are both pleasing to God. . . . In a world where those who are single are sometimes marginalized, sometimes excluded, these texts are clarifying and affirming and they should be wonderfully encouraging. For those called to be single, be it for a season, even a long season, or for life, whether you desire it, or whether you don't, I think God would want to encourage you this morning that your singleness, given by God, and pursued for God, brings glory to God. God is sovereign and if He has so ordained for whatever reason, for however long, that you to be single, He will empower you to fulfill this call.
"Now, if you are single and you have become overly comfortable--and I'm not talking about biblical contentment, that's a good thing--but perhaps you are aware that singleness for you has become the path of least resistance, a way for you to pursue your own desires, a way to avoid your responsibilities, and maybe a way to avoid the responsibilities of a family. This text would remind you, this text would exhort you, biblical singleness is purposeful. It's not singleness by default, it's singleness with a purpose and a passion to serve the church, to extend the gospel, which is really the call for every person in the church.
"To those single in our midst, for whom singleness is undesirable. You don't feel called to be celibate, you'd love to be married, for whatever reason it hasn't happened, I believe God would want to encourage you with a promise. It's a promise rooted in His love. It's a promise that holds out hope.
Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 56:3-5)
