Living Single

I. Introduction

We have come to the end of our Biblical Marriage and Family series.

Though this series was not exhaustive and their is so much more we could talk about in it, we pray that the church has been edified.

Today their is one last subject we want to briefly explore.

Today we will examine what it looks like for single or unmarried believers to live God honoring and Christ-centered lives of singleness.

We will being in 1 Corinthians chapter 7.

II. The apostle Paul’s advice for the unmarried

1 Corinthians 7:25 ESV

25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:26 ESV

26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

1 Corinthians 7:27 ESV

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:28 ESV

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

III. The apostle Paul’s concern for the unmarried

A. Freedom from anxieties to please the Lord

1 Corinthians 7:32 ESV

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:33 ESV

33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,

1 Corinthians 7:34 ESV

34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:35 ESV

35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

B. Marriage is no sin

1 Corinthians 7:36 ESV

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.

C. Celibacy is good

1 Corinthians 7:37 ESV

37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.

D. Both marriage and celibacy are God honoring

1 Corinthians 7:38 ESV

38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

E. Widows are free in this regard as well.

1 Corinthians 7:39–40 ESV

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

IV. Sage Advice for the young and single

A. How to keep a morally pure life?

Psalm 119:9–11 ESV

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

B. Don’t forget God

Ecclesiastes 12:1–3 ESV

1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.