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Reversal

By Rx

One of the chief concerns of many singles, time and again, is a complete reversal on the view that Paul and Jesus took. We look upon ourselves and then to society’s standard for us, back and forth, sizing up, weighing ourselves in the crooked balance of the world. We ask, "Why am I not married?" while the dark cloud of self-doubt hovers overhead. In the following Scripture we see Paul stressing that his worth as an apostle, if it were based on worldly standards, would place him on the lowest possible level of life, and yet if assayed by a godly and eternal standard, Paul’s worth is suddenly and remarkably transformed to something greater than pure gold:

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Hear also our Master:

There be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Note that He did not say, "He that is able to receive marriage let him receive it". The statement and context infer that not marrying is potentially advantageous for the Kingdom of Heaven, and the word "able" infers that a maximum of effort has been exerted prior to the assessment. Paul agrees with this in these words: "But if they cannot contain, let them marry." The emphasis here is that the maximum effort has made it evident that the single person is "un-able". Although remaining single should be given greater consideration, the concession given for the unable is that "it is not sin...let them marry".

When was the last time you heard a married couple admit, as though marriage were the second choice, "We could not contain so we married," or, "We were unable to receive celibacy so we married," or even, "We were burning with lust so we married"? Do you see the reversal that has happened here? We are convinced that self-fulfillment is the end goal of our short lives. Many married couples will unknowingly affirm that their priority in marrying was not motivated in Scripture. Just ask yourself whether most marriages are sought for self, or rather as an alternative to the unattained ministry of singleness. The common answer is that no reverent attempt is usually made to attain singleness as the ultimate goal at all.

The result of this self-oriented thinking ignores God’s actual purpose for marriage, and instead places that purpose in the position of a secondary by-product, if consciously regarded at all. But God’s Word came partly through Malachi and Paul, in essence saying, "First of all remember who owns you. Men do not join the two, I do, and I do so during sexual intercourse and for a good reason: I want you to raise godly children. And that desire applies to every child. Even for the child of a harlot I demand this, so let no man ever engage this joining in sin, or risk threatening that joining by poor choices or immorality".

Neither Paul nor our Savior say that marriage is sin, for those who are virgins or widowed. But we should take much more interest in the emphases that are given: "For heaven’s sake, attend upon the Lord without distraction," and, "For ye have not many fathers [in
Christ]."

© 2000 Rx

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Rx is from Alberta, Canada, and is a heavy truck mechanic and Web Developer.

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    If Singleness and Marriage are Gifts, Why Don't I Have One?
          By Fern Horst
    Better than Sons and Daughters By Fern Horst

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