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Purposeful Singleness
There are times for a single when the desire to be married, to have a mate and partner, can be so strong that it can lead to restlessness and discontent, because unfulfilled. One can start to see himself or herself as incomplete. Self-doubt can be a battle for some as they wonder if something wrong with them is keeping them from the marriage they want. When one's thoughts become focused inward and on what one doesn't have, unhappiness and discouragement and possibly anger can result.
For the Christian single, the person who lives for God, there is freedom. These feelings can certainly be a temptation, but they can also be avoided. Singleness is not just waiting for the best, or trying to make the most of a bad situation. I have found that, even though I hope to be married, my singleness now can actually be a good experience. The key is to see it as having an opportunity to do something that matters for good. If my sights are turned inward it's pretty unlikely that I can do this, but if I catch a vision of something significant outside myself it can make all the difference. Singleness can become purposeful.
There are two particular places in the New Testament where singleness with a purpose is mentioned (Matt. 19:12; 1 Cor. 7:32-35). The point in each is service to God. The idea applies to both those who choose to remain single for this reason and also those who are just single for the time being. Both can do much because they are free to be focused on God and on whatever form of service or ministry they are doing. Without the distraction of one important person in their lives they can give to many and in doing so find great fulfillment.
This is not just a theory; it's real. Yes, I hope to be married. But for now, I'm using the single freedom I have to serve others in ways I hope are pleasing to God and also do a particular task for Him which I know I couldn't have done if I were married. When I'm focused on these things instead of myself or the mate I don't have, I find much enjoyment in them, and singleness is, in fact, much easier. It's a rather surprising experience.
If you are a single Christian, I just want to encourage you to make your singleness count.
Use this opportunity for good things, for God and others. Incidentally, or maybe not so incidentally, if you do you get married you will find that any singleness time given to serving God and others will have been excellent preparation.
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