FamilyWise: Singleness
1 Corinthians 7:25 - 40
You were/are single >>>
>>> & most likely
you will be single again
GOD’S SIGNIFICANT SINGLES
 GOD
 HOLY SPIRIT
 MIRIAM
 RUTH
 ELIJAH
 ELISHA
 JEREMIAH
 EZEKIAL
 DANIEL
 SHADRACH
 MESHACH
 ABEDNEGO
 JESUS
 JOHN THE BAPTIST
 JOHN THE APOSTLE
 LAZARUS
 PAUL
 BARNABAS
 TIMOTHY
 PHOEBE
 LYDIA
 DORCAS
My heart breaks in four places.
With the displaced
The depressed.
Anyone vomiting.
And those living out purposeful singleness.
Why singleness?
Why would anyone in their right, sane, Godly,
mind choose to live a life devoted to
abstaining from dating relationships and the
possibility of marriage?
Culturally, sounds like something some crazy,
ugly, low-self-esteemed, social outcast, person
would do…
Jesus was culturally crazy. But not low selfesteemed, or ugly.
Now was Paul.
Both were celibate along with many others.
But why?
Jacob’s blog
www.jacobwalterwilson.com
1. The blessing of singleness – ONENESS
32 I want you to be free from the
concerns of this life. An unmarried man
can spend his time doing the Lord’s work
and thinking how to please him. 33 But a
married man has to think about his
earthly responsibilities and how to please
his wife. 34 His interests are divided.
1 Corinthians 7:32-34
1. The blessing of singleness – ONENESS
In the same way, a woman who is no
longer married or has never been married can
be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in
spirit. But a married woman has to think about
her earthly responsibilities and how to please
her husband. 35 I am saying this for your
benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want
you to do whatever will help you serve the
Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
1 Corinthians 7:34-35
2. The burden of singleness –
ALONENESS
18
Then the LORD God said, “It is not
good for the man to be alone. I will
make a helper who is just right for
him.” Genesis 2:18
2. The burden of singleness –
ALONENESS
3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi
was left with her two sons. 4 The two
sons married Moabite women. One
married a woman named Orpah, and
the other a woman named Ruth. But
about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon
and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone,
without her two sons or her husband.
Ruth 1:3-5
2. The burden of singleness –
ALONENESS
16
But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave
you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will
go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people
will be my people, and your God will be my
God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and
there I will be buried. May the LORD punish
me severely if I allow anything but death to
separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth
was determined to go with her, she said
nothing more.
Ruth1:16,17
3. The best of singleness –
GIFTEDNESS
7
But I wish everyone were single, just
as I am. Yet each person has a special gift
from God, of one kind or another.
8 So I say to those who aren’t married
and to widows—it’s better to stay
unmarried, just as I am. 1 Corinthians 7:7,8
Carolyn Jacobs
 When you reflect on life before Jim, what do
you recall how you felt about being single
then?
 And now that Jim has been with the Lord since
April of 2008, almost 3 years, how do you view
singleness now?
 What has/is God teaching you about yourself?
 What has/is God teaching you about Himself?
Applications for Living
Colossians 3:17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God
the Father.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the
desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and
all these things will be added to you