Matthew 19 – Being single is a blessing

It’s okay not to marry.  The American Christian culture for one reason or another has pressured its young adults into feeling that marriage is a requirement; that if you do not marry and have babies you have failed.  Jesus and Paul, however, both say that it is okay not to marry;  in fact they both say that it is good or better for some to not marry.

I was called to marry.  I married young and well; however I had many friends who married young and poorly.  It would have been better for them to wait.  If God is not calling you to marry, don’t.  If God has not yet placed you into a position to marry, that’s okay.

When I was pastoring there were many Sunday mornings when I understood the benefits of priests being celibate.  When you have a spouse, and especially when you have children, there are times when you are not able to focus on what God is calling you to do as you could when you were single or childless.  There were Saturday nights when I was up from 1-4am cleaning up various bodily fluids and comforting sick children.  I know I was not fully focused on God as I led worship the next day.

There have been times when I would have engaged in a ministry, but the responsibilities to my wife and children precluded my availability.  Singleness is a blessing.  Childlessness is a blessing.  Marriage is a blessing.  Children are a blessing.  No matter where you are rejoice in your blessing and listen to God’s leading in your life.

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