Devoted Or Distracted? Series

DEVOTED OR DISTRACTED?

I Corinthians 7:25-40

S: Singleness

C: Devotion to God

Th: Live the Difference

Pr: SINGLENESS IS GREAT.

?: Why?

KW: Reasons

TS: We will find in our study of I Corinthians 7:25-40 three reasons why it is great to be single.

The _____ reason it is great to be single is the…

I. DIFFICULTIES OF THE WORLD (25-31)

II. DISTRACTIONS OF MARRIAGE (32-35)

III. DISCIPLINE OF EMOTION (36-40)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

· Affirm singleness.

· Be single-minded toward God.

Version: ESV

RMBC 06 June 04 AM

INTRODUCTION:

When you are single, it is easy to get tired of the marriage question.

So to those of you that are in this category, I want to offer some help to you and offer my Top Ten comebacks to the question, “why aren’t you married yet?”

ILL Notebook: Singleness (Why aren’t you married yet)

10. It didn’t seem worth a blood test.

9. I already have enough laundry to do, thank you.

8. I wouldn’t want my parents to drop dead from sheer happiness.

7. You haven’t asked yet.

6. I was hoping to do something meaningful with my life.

5. Because I just love hearing this question.

4. Just lucky, I guess.

3. It gives my mother something to live for.

2. Because I think it would take all the spontaneity out of dating.

1. I’m waiting until I get to be your age.

TRANSITION:

Well, we are in our third and last week of studying the seventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.

1. In our study of I Corinthians 7, we have been told to stay in the marital state we are in.

You may remember in our study two weeks ago, we found that Paul was answering a question that had come to him.

There was a growing movement in the church that was promoting an ascetic lifestyle.

In other words, this movement was teaching that to be a truly spiritual Christian one had to be celibate.

So that those that were married were being encouraged to deny sexual expression in their relationships.

And if this was too difficult, they were free to get divorced so that they could serve the Lord better.

For Paul, such thinking was nonsense.

Although he was a big believer in the single life (as we will see again today), he also believed in the blessing and responsibility of marriage.

And since it is a covenantal relationship, it is not to be so lightly dismissed.

So, acting as a marriage counselor, he says, “Stay as you are.”

If you are single, stay that way if you can.

If you are married, stay that way.

For…

2. We are to be content in our calling.

If we are given the gift of singleness (and it is a spiritual gift), we are to be content in it.

If we are given the gift of marriage, we are to be content in it.

Not only that…

3. We are to be content in what God has given us and where He has placed us.

Do you realize today that the way you are – your body, your personality, your spiritual gifts – has come from God?

And do you realize today that where God has placed you is not just dumb luck, but rather the sovereign choice of God?

This means that you can serve God where you are.

This means that you can honor God where you are.

And do you realize that if you are complaining about what God has given you and where He has placed you, you are, in reality, attacking Him?

So learn to be content, wherever God has you today.

Now, for some of you, where God has you today is in the midst of the single life.

And let me say, so that everyone can hear it…

4. SINGLENESS IS GREAT.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being single.

This means that it should not be looked down on, nor should anyone consider a single person a second-class citizen.

Being single is a perfectly acceptable and proper mode of life that has a divinely approved status.

Now, granted…

God has arranged for most of us to be married.

It is a part of His design for life and society as we study Genesis 1 and 2.

And, as a result, the single life is more of the exception

But…

It is to be a proud exception!

Have you ever noticed how kids relate between the sexes?

The boys wrestle with boys.

And the girls play with girls.

And on occasion, but rarely, the two sexes meet.

But God solved this small dilemma with an internal alarm clock that causes little glands to pour out hormones.

And then the two sexes run into one another’s arms.