Serving the Lord Single Without Distraction

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (New King James Version)

32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world-how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world-how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

I was travelling on the seven hour journey on a train once and the Lord put me next to a retired missionary. She was a wonderful woman that had decided not to marry and to serve the Lord with all of her life. I asked her how she coped with not having children and she told me that the Lord had blessed her with hundreds of children. She was loved by all the children of the mission and even carried letters and photos of grandchildren of the children she kind of adopted oversees. Here was a woman that the Lord was her keeper and husband and she shone with the brightness of Christ. She was one of the most wonderful ladies I have ever met.

I know another person who decided that he would not marry when he was young. He asked the Lord Jesus whether He wanted him to marry or stay single. The Lord answered him and told him he wished he would remain single. The Lord has done a tremendous work in his life and he is the wonder of one of the best Christian websites that I know of.

The Apostle Paul would not have wasted four verses in Corinthians on this subject if it were not a vital subject. I personally have been married and my wife divorced me and am choosing the remain single for the rest of my life. There is real liberty in being able to spend each amount of income on the things that you want to spend them on, things that better equip the Lord's servants.

Is the Lord calling you to remain single? Have you got a call on your life that means that the Lord wants you to be single? You are privileged and the Lord will reward you with his presence day by day.

Have you ever considered serving the Lord single?

It's a big question, I'll admit. But have you the courage to ask the Lord if he wants you to marry or remain single?

You'll be blessed if you ask Him.

I know a young lady that it married now that asked the Lord that question and the Lord told her that he wanted her to be married and now she has a wonderful husband and they look as they are going to serve the Lord full time in the future as a dynamic couple.

The Lord would love many more people to be single and serve him. The Lord yearns for people to serve Him with all their heart and mind. He loves couples, sure, but the single person that has given away their desire for marriage please him immensely. They from sun up the sun down have a right mind toward him and are not distracted from serving him. Do you want to be one of those people?

It's a question you might want to ask yourself. Do you want to serve the Lord with your whole heart with no distractions that a partner may bring? Would you have the courage to ask the Lord what He wants?

I leave it with you.

Let me pray for you.

Father

I bring this person before you today and I lift them up to your throne of grace. I ask that you anoint them with a fresh anointing and fill them anew with your Spirit. I ask that you bless them and lead them into a deeper relationship with you. I ask that you walk with them and give them a real presence of your Holy Spirit that might walk with them. Give them the courage to ask you if they should serve you single I ask in Jesus name.

Amen

If you have enjoyed my article you can read the book "The parables of Jesus made simple" for free here in its entirety or just selected parables in chapters at http://www.parables-of-jesus-christ.net/ The book will be published in book form in January 2011