Part 8
Note from Pastor Brad: I would like to personally thank Pastor Bob Yandian of Grace Church in Tulsa, OK for his teachings on the Book of Proverbs from which a large portion of the notes in this series of lessons have been taken.
The Blessings of Being Single
Proverbs 19:23 NIV The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Philippians 4:11 AMP Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”
Contentment is to be satisfied in whatever state you are; but it does not mean that you settle for that.
Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul said that, “…I press for the mark…” He was content but He was always reaching for more in his relationship with Christ and his calling.
Contentment is connected with your happiness and is separate from your desires for more from God.
Your contentment should be divorced from whether you have things or not.
Our goal is to live free from covetousness (being overly desirous).
Your contentment is a tremendous tool God will use to minister to those that are lost.
No matter what your status in life happens to be here in the earth, that does not exist in our relationship with Jesus. We are all equal in His eyes.
Don’t allow the world to place a certain status on you because of where you are at the moment. (married or unmarried)
Example of Michal watching David dance before the Lord when the ark came back and he put on the mere robe of a priest instead of his kingly robes and she preferred him to wear his kingly garments because it was important to her that she was married to a king and not David. (1 Chronicles 15:29)
1 Corinthians 7:24-29 NKJV (24) Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. (25) Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. (26) I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress–that it is good for a man to remain as he is: (27) Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. (28) But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. (29) But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,
What does the Bible really say about divorce and remarriage?
God is never for divorce but He is always for divorced people!
Matthew 19:3-9 NKJV The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (4) And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,’ (5) and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’ ? (6) So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (7) They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” (8) He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. (9) And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
1 Corinthians 7:1-16 NKJV (1) Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (2) Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. (3) Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. (4) The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. (5) Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (6) But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. (7) For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. (8) But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; (9) but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (10) Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. (11) But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. (12) But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. (13) And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. (14) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. (15) But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. (16) For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
We make a big deal out of being married or not being married.
Whatever state you are in at the moment learn to be content.
What is it that you live for on a daily basis?
1 Corinthians 7:29 NKJV (29) But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,
The most important thing should be your relationship with Jesus and that Jesus is coming soon and we must make our lives matter for Him.
This is why we must be content in our lives.
Your marital status did not matter to Jesus when you got saved.
Your marital status does not matter to Jesus when it comes to serving Him.
We are not told the marital status of Jesus’ disciples except for Jesus and Peter because it was not a huge deal like we make it today.
Your marital status is not a determining factor as to whether you are successful for God or not.
Timothy was single and pastored the largest church in the world at that time.
Who gave you the right to place your life on hold and withhold it from God’s service until your circumstances are perfect.
Live for Him now because He loves you and He is coming soon.
Make your life count no matter what your status is in life!
Wrong motives for getting married:
- “I’m wanting to marry someone who is a wealthy person.”
- “I want to be married so I won’t be lonely.”
- “I’m looking for someone to make me happy.”
- “I want to hurry and get married because I’m getting older.”
- “I want to find a mate because all of my friends are getting married.”