Single Goodness

Notes from a workshop I went to about singleness:

Society looks at singleness as a lack of something when it really is not.

Fruit of the Spirit of Goodness-Single

Goodness definition: Moral and spiritual excellence(Eph 5:8-10). Goodness is active not passive. It is kindly aggressive (Romans 15:14). Single and being joyful and at peace about it may not always work hand in hand. Your highest calling is to be a child of God. Marriage is temporary. Redemption is eternal.

God is Good

Psalm 136:1 "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His mercy is everlasting."

Everything else works out when we think God is Good. Goodness=loving kindness. As we grow in Him we grow in goodness

God gives good gifts

James 1:16-18 "Every good thing bestowed and every good gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow."

Trials and testing of believers. Psalm 37:4-Righteousness shine forth. Desire his righteousness.

Singleness is a gift from God and so is marriage

1 Cor 7:7 "I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that."

Singleness is a gift from God given specifically for the purpose of His Eternal Kingdom and Glory

1 Cor 7:35 "I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.. I say these things for your benefit... to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord."

Undistracted devotion to God. Not for me but for the sake of the kingdom to be advanced. Singleness can be a matter of suffering in our lives. Tis better to love and lose then to not love at all.(1 Peter 2:9, 2 Cor 1:6-7) Don't sit and wait for that special person to come, go out and work in the fields (Eph 1:4-5) Gift of being single=gift of grace. We are given unique abilities. When we are single we have more time to use these and to do things for others that we might not be able to do because of the lack of time we would have to do them once we were married.

She asked us if marriage was becoming possibly an idol for us?

God intends for all, married or single--to pursue him alone as the sole source of our soul's satisfaction.

Ephesians 1:4-5 "For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will."

Our Response to Singleness

1. Memorize Scripture

Meditate on the Word instead of spending your time ruminating on your loneliness

2. Chase Contentment

Pursue it. Life a lifestyle of thankfulness for what you have.

3. Develop Boundaries

Be careful with your relationships and your time.

4. Become Accountable to the Family and Church

Keep one another in check.

5. Reject the World's Encroachment

How do you spend your time and money? How do you encourage the church?

6. Go Against the Odds

Don't play marriage poker. God will bring the spouse at the right time. Start serving now. If God really wants you to get married than if even if you were serving in Mongolia among the goats than God could bring you the spouse there in the field.

7. Practice Hospitality

This is not an option. We should practice this in our homes and in our lives. Think "How can I care for people that could just use a little bit of love?"

8. Pursue Families

Watch the families around. Sometimes we can have unrealistic expectations of what a family should look like and sometimes we just need a reality check.

9. Do not be Slothful in Zeal, be Fervent in Spirit, Serve the Lord

Romans 12:11 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

Become passionate for the sake of the kingdom. Take some risks for Jesus. If you are single and you die it really doesn't matter so just go out.

Key Point to Remember:

HEARTS FOCUSED ON ETERNITY!!!!