Married ,unmarried or marred .

Married ,unmarried or marred .
(Counsel for single men and women in christ )
Many teachings and emphasis on marriage have done injustice to the virtues of singleness .
Scriptures teach concerning marriage .
Genesis 2:24 KJV
[24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
A man and woman becoming one in a marital union with sexual privileges as a major distinction .
This union is of God.
Matthew 19:6 KJV
[6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
It's sacred and blessed of God.
Hebrews 13:4 KJV
[4] Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
You are at liberty as touching both to marry ,when to marry and whom you should be married to .
1 Corinthians 7:39 KJV
[39] The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
Believers are taught however to Marry in The Lord .
That said .
It's noteworthy that the two major commentators in scriptures on marriage were not married .
They were single .
Jesus and Paul.
This demystifies those who say till you are married you can't teach on marriage .
If you have scriptures ,you can !
Singleness is a scriptural option as much as marriage is.
Its unjust and unkind to glorify marriage and demean singleness .
Imagine making testimonies out of people getting married and conducting the African comedy of deliverance on the un -married
We even call getting married settling down !
Nonsense .Several married around the world are not settled emotionally ,spiritually ,financially ,mentally etc .
It's a myth .
I heard a preacher also twist scriptures that there's a special Favour in marriage .
He quoted proverbs
Proverbs 18:22 KJV
[22] Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing , and obtaineth favour of the Lord .
The Hebrew doesn't have " who so" and " thing "
The term Favour means acceptance or some approved of .
It simply means " Find a wife ,it's good,it's approved of God"
Simple .
Marriage is of God.
Singleness is also of God .
Paul's major teaching on marital duties and others is in 1 Corinthians 7:1-40
He made a case for marriage .
1 Corinthians 7:2 KJV
[2] Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
He made a seeming stronger case for singleness ,I mean staying unmarried .
1 Corinthians 7:8,32,34,38 KJV
[8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
[32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
[38] So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
You hardly find present day emergency marriage preachers mention it this way .
He commended the unmarried and gave due honor to those who stayed unmarried for the sake of the gospel
1 Corinthians 9:5 KJV
[5] Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Many have called it a special gift .
No it's not .Its a decision .
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 KJV
[7] For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. [
9] But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
The gift is free will,liberty to choose and not a supernatural ability else he won't teach to all to abide and if you can't contain ,i.e self control ,marry rather than burn with sexual passion .
This ought to be taught.
Whilst any teaching that forbids marriage is a doctrine of devils
1 Timothy 4:3 KJV
[3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
However ,to belittle and demean singleness and start calling it a curse is equally a False doctrine .
Some bar the unmarried from ministry roles .
They quote paul wrongly
1 Timothy 3:2 KJV
[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,
The Greek says one woman man .
It means a man properly married .This would only apply to those who have such relationships in view .
Paul the writer won't be qualified if it means you must be married to lead.
History has it Timothy here wasn't married !
Neither will Jesus nor Barnabas qualify too.
Paul actually teaches singles as having more devotion to the things of God.
1 Corinthians 7:32-33 KJV
[32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
[33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
Same as 1 Corinthians 9:5.
We mustn't infuse cultural demands into the teaching of faith !
Marriage must be taught from the word and not from societal pulse .
Many are married today out of this demand and are living in regrets .
Many have Missed Gods plan for they lives ,whilst their parents and folks are feeling accomplished .
Singleness is not a curse neither staying unmarried for the rest of your life !
Luke 2:36-37 KJV
[36] And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
[37] And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
84 years unmarried .
Though some will abuse this freedom .
1 Timothy 5:11 KJV
[11] But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
But not all.
Next time you are called to teach marriage from scriptures ,kindly let people know they have a choice to remain single .
Single not to serve self ,indulging in sinful habits but rather to devote yourself to serve The Lord .
Get married if you want but it's not a must
Stay single if you choose ,You are not cursed if you do .
You are blessed
You have a great evening ahead filled with miracle