The pendulum of history swings hard on this issue. Either someone cannot do ministry because they are single, or are they are prohibited in ministry because they are married and with children. Currently we are in a pendulum swing where singles basically are set aside. It’s married people who are in ministry.

But Paul says, in his opinion, singleness is a better positioned to serve the Lord. Married folk are divided in their interests. They need to please the Lord and to please their spouses. But single people are positioned to be fully devoted to the Lord in body and soul.

In fact, Paul goes on to say that is a husband dies, she is free to remarry, but in his opinion, she is happier if she stays single.

Therefore, we actually should have a shift in culture. Singles should be honored and released. At present, this is not the case. Many people do not know what to do with singles. Give them a church of their own? Put them all in their own small group which basically becomes a “meet market”? Keep them out of leadership roles because “they might get involved with someone”?

This is not good.

Instead of putting water on the fire of their love for Christ, rather put fuel to their engine to go to the nations. Some of the most significant and impactful Christians in history have been single. Starting with Jesus. And Paul.

This isn’t to say to ban marriage like is done in Catholicism. If anything, this goes directly against Scripture (1 Tim 4:3 and 1 Cor 7). Marriage is good and of God.

But marriage has its difficulties.

“Those who marry will face many troubles in this life” (1 Cor 7:28).

This is also written in a time where persecution was heating up and the gospel was needing a strong force to carry the gospel. Singleness made a person undivided.

Marriage is good, important, and of God. But the bottom line is that whether single or married, each has a significant place in the kingdom of God.