Austin Bible Church
The greatest decision in life is receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior. Another great decision is whether or not to marry. Marriage is a good and wonderful thing as long as you have the right person, the one the Lord has for you. However, the Lord has certain responsibilities for some men and women whereby, if they enter into marriage (even though it may be good in principle) it can be wrong for them because it cuts into their time of service in the plan of God. An example is the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:5.
“Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” (1 Corinthians 9:5, NASB)
There was a tremendous need for concentrated service for the Lord. The real issue is utilization of time and quite obviously the single believer has more time to serve the Lord. The principle in 1 Corinthians 7:38 is that it is better for the utilization of time when one is serving the Lord to be single rather than married.
“So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.” (1 Corinthians 7:38, NASB)
In married status, time is consumed in making the married successful. Your spouse must not be neglected! Marriage time is consumed in training children. Children must not be neglected! Marriage time is consumed in providing physical needs of the family. Business must not be neglected. Marriage time is consumed in doing certain things in the Lord’s service. The Lord must not be neglected!
The Bible commands responsibility in these areas. All believers are in full time Christian service. Both single and married status are right. Each case must be discerned on its own personal merits. Each person must decide for themselves which is better for them. There are some people who will not use time properly unless they are married.
Celibacy is not holier than marriage. Under certain conditions, it can be a satanic doctrine. Spirituality is the filling of the Holy Spirit in either single or married status. 1 Tim. 4:1-3.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3, NASB)
There are times when we have to choose between using our time for a legitimate activity or using our time for the Lord’s service. 1 Cor. 7:30.
“and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;” (1 Corinthians 7:30, NASB)