Should Everyone Get Married?
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 7:1-7
Each [one] has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
1 Corinthians 7:7
In answer to the question “Is it better to be single or married?” a nine-year-old girl answered, “It’s better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.”
Though we might chuckle at this, we know the answer to the question is not quite so simple. In 1 Corinthians 7 the apostle Paul has a lot to say about marriage, singleness, and serving the Lord. Paul explains that each person has his or her own gift from God.
When God said, “It is not good … to be alone” (Genesis 2:18), he was not speaking of every human being. Some people have the calling to be single, while others are called to be married. In fact, Paul points out that being single can often open doors to special kingdom service that a married person would not be able to fulfill. Within the church of Christ, singles find themselves part of the one family that matters for all eternity.
If you are single, use your singleness to serve the Lord. If you would like to be married, you may find ways within God’s guidelines to meet someone who loves the Lord. Ask God to bring someone into your life, and join a group of Christian singles so that you can meet others who want to be married. Also look for a church that provides opportunities for single people to use their gifts and talents for the whole family of God.
Lord, we thank you for the many single people who use their gifts to serve you and others in the whole family of God. Help us all to build each other up in serving you. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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