The Christian church in the West . . . has labeled [singleness] “Plan B for the Christian life.” . . . Beneath [this statement] is the premise that single life is a state of deprivation for people who are not yet fully formed enough for marriage. [Paige Benton Brown says:] “I am not single because I am too spiritually unstable to possibly deserve [a spouse] . . . nor . . . too spiritually mature to possibly need one. I am single because God is so abundantly good to me, because this is his best for me.” (Hardcover, pp. 196–97; paperback, pp. 224–25)
NOT A DEPRIVATION. If you are single, or if you want to be good brothers and sisters to Christian single adults, I know of no better place to direct your thoughts than to Paige Benton’s article, “Singled Out for Good,” the article from which the quote above was taken.132 Whether our life circumstances are of singleness or marriage, sickness or health, happiness or grief, they all give us an opportunity to bear witness to God’s wisdom and his love by serving him gladly where we find ourselves, rather than thinking we could serve him so much better if only he would change things. Singleness is no deprivation, and all of us in the Christian community must understand that if we are to be brothers and sisters together in each local church family.
Reflection: Do you think that God has been unloving to you in designing the circumstances of your present life? What consolation is it to you that you can glorify him in those circumstances? Or that the fullness of God’s glory awaits you?
Thought for prayer: Meditate on Genesis 50:20, in which Joseph says that all the circumstances of his life, even those that his brothers designed for his harm, were places in which Joseph was able to serve God. Pray for this same mindset of patient, gracious acceptance of circumstances.