A High View of Singleness: Gift and Calling

But neither being single nor being married can ever be viewed as more important, as higher than seeking heaven, than seeking the kingdom of God, than seeking God. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus explains that we're supposed to seek treasures in heaven, right? He says that we're supposed to seek first the kingdom of God, to seek God first. This is what Matthew shares with us in chapter 6. Nothing can take a higher view or be more important than God. God has to be first. [00:07:01] (34 seconds)  #SeekGodFirst

Singleness is not easy. It's not fun. I think I can say that confidently. It's not more fun than being married. It may not be temporary. Sin has marred everything, including singleness. So to those of you who are in this station at this time, I want you to remember that you are called to endure, but you are not called to endure by yourself. You are called to be eunuched for Christ by His supernatural power. [00:32:40] (30 seconds)  #EndureByHisPower

Now I want to be clear. I am not saying that our redemption is conditional on our obedience. That's not at all what I'm saying. Our obedience to God is not a prerequisite to salvation. Our obedience to God, it is the natural and unavoidable response to Jesus' redemptive work on the cross for our sake. That is the gospel. [00:27:10] (24 seconds)  #ObedienceAsResponse

And it's one that Jesus provides for you, right? It's not something that, you know, he's not giving a five-point plan to help make it possible. It's a gift, not a command. It's a gift from Jesus. So we are called in our singleness, if you're single, to ask him for it. To receive the ability to be single, to be eunuched for Christ. Receive the supernatural power from the Holy Spirit to live out this time of singleness and celibacy. [00:20:10] (33 seconds)  #ReceiveHisGift

The outsider is no longer an outcast. The family of God includes the eunuch, the outsiders, the outcast. It includes you because whether you're single or married, when we love Jesus, we are equally a part of the family of God. That's the second observation I have from this. The last observation before we get into what has this been for us as a church, the last observation is centered around the very last sentence of today's passage, where it simply says this, Let the one who is able to receive this, receive it. [00:16:43] (34 seconds)  #FamilyIncludesAll

So, like I said, three observations, but the big thing is what does this mean for us, a church, practically? What do we do with this? And I want to start with those who are single and maybe struggling. I want to say this. It's okay to not like it. It's okay to not like being single. It's okay to desire. It's okay to pursue a relationship. It's okay to want to get out of it. [00:23:39] (23 seconds)  #OkayToDesireLove

Because I want to say this again, there's nothing wrong with you if you're single. It's okay. You are a beloved chosen child of God. You have been given a calling at this time to be in this station, in this situation. So my encouragement to you is to seek out, in this moment, to live eunuched for Christ. Live that singleness for the sake of the gospel. [00:25:31] (27 seconds)  #BelovedAndCalled

But even with those two great examples, I also believe this includes those who are same-sex attracted. Same-sex attracted, but have decided to not pursue a same-sex relationship because that's not what God intends. So for those of you who are same-sex attracted, or maybe you have children who are same-sex attracted for, are same-sex attracted Christians, brothers and sisters, who make the choice to choose obedience to God over the world's view of sex and romance, I believe this would include you. [00:14:14] (31 seconds)  #AllWhoChooseObedience

If I speak very candidly, look, Christian singleness is often characterized by the things you don't have, the lack, right? As a single person, you don't have enough money to live here because it's so expensive. You won't have sex. You won't have intimacy. You can't even figure out who to put down as your emergency contact if you're single. It's not a nice way to be. It's okay to not like being single. But in spite of that, what I'm going to encourage, I'm going to ask is this, to remember that it is a calling and it is a gift and it is something that we are told to pray to God to give us the strength to endure. [00:24:02] (37 seconds)  #SinglenessIsCalling

See, you and I, we are called to create a community of believers that loves the folks that are eunuched, to create community for the ones that are currently single. Look, I wholly believe that the church absolutely has a responsibility to shepherd, to help our married couples, to help our families who have children. We have a responsibility to help teach parents, to teach their children to love God with all their might. [00:28:43] (30 seconds)  #BuildInclusiveCommunity

But pray that God will work within you to make it something that you are able to receive this gift of singleness for his sake, for the sake of the gospel. That's one thing for you to consider. Another thing is this, and again, if you are single, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You are not broken. Again, if you are single, amongst Christians and other minority groups and stuff like that, oftentimes you get the question, are you dating? Why aren't you married yet? [00:24:43] (31 seconds)  #NothingWrongWithYou

But for those of you who are in a place where the calling to be single, it is challenging. To those for whom this is a thorn in your side that feels like it's constantly being pressed in, reopening the wound in your heart, this is all I can offer right now. Now, this story that Matthew shares, these words from Jesus, it includes this story of being eunuched. It comes after Jesus explains that those who want to express their faithfulness in him, want to follow him, have to carry their cross. [00:21:23] (41 seconds)  #SinglenessCanHurt

Today's passage, Jesus points out that singleness, it's not for everyone, right? It's only for those to whom it's given, because it's special. It's good, just like being married is good, because both are part of God's design. Both are part of God's plan. So we're called to have a high view of singleness. But, and this is the second part of this first observation, our high view of singleness cannot be higher than our view of heaven. [00:06:25] (33 seconds)  #SinglenessIsGiftNotRule

So instead, what Jesus decides to do is he wants to make sure that all his people, which probably included single and married disciples, he wants to make sure that all his people understand what the view is that they should have of singleness, and that it should be the same view that they should have for being married, for marriedness. Both are designed by God. Both should be held in a high view. In 1 Corinthians 7, not going to go into it right now, but Paul, he riffs on this high view of singleness. [00:05:44] (36 seconds)  #BothDesignedByGod

The thing is, the gay community does. They accept him with reckless abandon. There is no judgment, just acceptance. So non-single people, this is my challenge to you. We are the body of Christ. We are called to take the time to care for all the members of the body. If you're called to mentor someone, sign up for George and Liz's workshop at the retreat. If you're called to care for a single person, Taylor has shared about it. [00:31:29] (39 seconds)  #CareForAllMembers

And as well with the love and support of the community of believers, the family of God that He has led you to here. To our unsingles, our married ones, our single sisters and brothers need you and I to step up. To step up so that we might be used by God to help those who have been eunuched for Christ. So hold on to a high view of marriage, but also hold on to a high view of singleness. But never hold on to a higher view of those two things than of heaven. [00:33:10] (31 seconds)  #StepUpForSingles

And with that correct view of the highest view being of heaven, understand that we as a family of God are called to love all of those who are in the family of God. Let's close with prayer. [00:33:41] (16 seconds)  #FamilyCalledToLove