Is It More Blessed To Be Married Or Single?

You have to love apostle Paul's passion for Jesus. Maybe not everyone can understand how the Spirit spoke through him on some subjects but there can't be any negative discussion concerning his love for Jesus and his followers. I smile every time I read what he has said about marriage:

"It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband." (1 Corinthians 7:1-2)

He consents to the need for marriage with such reluctance. Paul had such a passion for the Lord he couldn't understand why everyone didn't feel like him. To Paul marriage would just get in the way of his service. He definitely would not have made a good husband and he realized this:

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world - how he can please his wife - and his interests are divided." (1 Corinthians 7:32-34)

And how right he is. He says the same about about women in the verses that follow. The problem comes when we sacrifice relationships in the name of Jesus. We can't sacrifice our spouse and children in the name of sacrifice to Jesus. If we are married we have responsibilities and if we do not fulfill these we couldbe opening the door to the destruction of those we love.

When we are married or are involved in a relationship moving toward marriage, we have a responsibility to make that relationsip work. It means we can't give as much as we want to the Lord. He would not be please if we allowed these relationships to fail. As Paul says, if you want to give it all to Jesus it would be better for you not to marry. Not everyone has been called to tbis so you have to figure that out first:

"I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." (1 Corinthians 7:7)

Maybe tbis seems like a strange subject to you but it is a thing of maturity. If you want to be totally dedicated in your service to the Lord don't enter into another relationship. However, if you do marry don't act as if you are single. You have responsibilities to fulfill. But don't pretend you can be 100% dedicated when you are divided in your heart and you long for a spouse:

"Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." (1 Corinthians 7:8-9)

So don't just assume in this matter of marriage. Understand the cost, make it a matter of prayer and tben be joyful with the choice. Once this is settled in your heart you will have more peace to pursue it. Don't let society choose for you but instead inquire of the Lord. This too is a matter of maturity.