Singleness

I am the first to admit that I may have encouraged behavior in my own children that hints, even screams, marriage is the ultimate goal in life.  Yes, I do discuss that they should seek after God with their whole heart and it's better to serve Him than anything, but sometimes my attitude tells them differently.  I'm sure I've thrown out 1 Corinthians 7:40 to them, but I haven't been faithful to teach it.  I have encouraged dreams of the knight in shining armor and a perfect wedding.  My girls have even asked, "What if God calls me to singleness?" -like it's a disease. The church in general hasn't done much better, contributing to the false idea that it is better to be married and that singleness must be "fixed".

1 Corinthians 7:40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Rereading that verse should cause us to pause and wonder. Paul said that the single woman would be happier if she remained single. Some versions render that word - better, better to be single!

On speaking of her granddaughters, Barbara Hughes writes "... Life is not about getting God to give them what they want; life is about discovering where they fit into God's plan, whether single or married."  The Disciplines of a Godly Woman, page 134

Psalm 119:20 My soul is consumed with longings for your rules at all times.

This verse keeps coming to mind in relationship to singleness. So as I pray for my girls' future husbands, now I am also praying that they would be consumed with longings for God and his word.