This post is the first in a four-part series on a Biblical view of singleness.
Every Christian is preparing for an eternity of singleness. In heaven there is neither marriage, nor giving in marriage (Matt. 22:30). Although the church as a whole will be married to Christ, the earthly institution of one man and one woman joined together for an adult lifespan will no longer exist. In heaven, every saint will be singly devoted to Christ. Since earth is the saint’s training ground for heaven, a key question facing any Christian is whether singleness or marriage is the best means of preparing for the eternal kingdom. For many in the Protestant community, the assumed answer to this question is marriage. Reacting to the Romanists’ decision to “forbid marriage” among the priests, some conservative Christians have virtually forbidden singleness. The result of this kind of theological overcorrection is that single saints are often viewed as second-class Christians who are running around with one arm instead of two as they pursue sanctification. For these undervalued singles, the Scripture has great news: the apostle Paul considered singleness to be the best preparation for heaven (1 Cor. 7:7-8). Although it makes sense that there could be no better preparation for an eternity singly devoted to Christ than an earthly lifetime singly devoted to Christ, few Christians feel comfortable advocating singleness. A look at how the Scripture magnifies the value of singleness can help all saints affirm the worthiness of single living in Christ.
Without undermining the honorable estate and dignity of marriage, the Bible uses numerous examples of godly singles to present singleness as the ideal condition for serving God. These mature, sanctified singles span all eras of Scriptural history. Old Testament prophets such as Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, and Daniel were all single. They had the mobility, flexibility, and freedom to carry out ministries that involved changes of location, rigorous study, and intense persecution. Likewise, most of the twelve disciples led single lives unrestricted by family concerns. They were free to travel throughout the earth to fulfill the Great Commission. In addition to many of the original Twelve, Paul, Timothy, Titus, and Silas appear to have foregone marriage for the sake of ministry. Their reasoning was simple. They wanted to give the maximum amount of time, energy, money, and devotion to God alone. For them, single living was an opportunity not for self-centered living but for Christ-centered living.
The ultimate example of a single life fully devoted to God is the life of the Lord Jesus. More than any of the single prophets, or any of the single apostles, or even the apostle born out of due time, the Lord Jesus demonstrated that wholeness before God is entirely independent of one’s marital status. As a single man, Jesus attained a full measure of righteousness. As a single man, Jesus met every obligation to his country, neighbors, and friends. As a single man, Jesus never failed to meet any obligation to either His human parents or his Heavenly Father. Jesus’ life was so perfectly complete that God considers the righteousness of Christ to be the only grounds of acceptance for any person who seeks to enter heaven. Although Christ’s singleness was not what made him righteous, His singleness did not hinder Him in any way from fulfilling all righteousness. Thus, God views Jesus, the Last Adam who lived a single but sinless life, as the perfect representative for every sinful believer. A single man’s righteousness is the righteousness that every saint, single or married, stands upon when facing the eternal God. As a single man, Jesus lived a life of infinite value before God.
Next week: “What’s wrong with you that you aren’t married?” or how too many people in the church went wrong in their thinking about singleness.
