IT IS BETTER NOT TO MARRY

I am a single male. I have not always been a single male, but I am now. Dealing with singleness (particularly after once being married) can be a difficult thing, but we must realize the blessing in being single. The Bible multiple times says that it is better to remain single. It is common for people to fight that biblical truth by saying that not everyone is called to singleness. While this is true, do not minimize the fact that it is indeed better to remain single. The common misperception, particularly in the modern church, is that married people are somehow better than single people. We have probably all been involved in a conversation about a person who many consider to be odd that contained the phrase, “That’s why he or she will stay single,” as if that would be a bad thing. What we, in essence, do then is imply that marriage is better than singleness when the opposite is true. How often are married people commended more than single people? How often do people believe that marriage is more difficult than singleness? How often is marriage elevated and more honored than singleness? We honor people for 70 years of marriage. However, never do we see someone honored for 70 years of singleness even though the Bible speaks very highly of singleness. These are misperceptions. Being single is difficult (perhaps more difficult than marriage in many respects), and we must realize that not everyone is called to marriage. In singleness, people must realize the good that can come from it, the glory that will go to God through it, and indeed that it is better to remain single than to marry. Do not minimize the good of singleness. It is better not to marry.