Celebrating Singleness

Singleness is not a season to endure. It’s not something to simply wait out until something better comes along. Singleness can actually be that “something better.” It’s a status to celebrate. What is there to celebrate about singleness?

When we think about the life of Christ, we are reminded of a man who lived fully, loved deeply, and gave selflessly—and yet He never experienced romantic love, marriage, or physical intimacy. This truth challenges us to rethink what it means to live a complete, meaningful life.

Our society often idolizes romantic relationships. Even within the Church, phrases like “When you get married” instead of “If God leads you to marriage” imply that marriage is necessary. These messages can leave singles feeling incomplete or pressured to change their status in order to be valued. But singleness is not a season to endure; it is a status to celebrate.

In 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, Paul writes, “But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am” (NLT). Paul describes singleness as a gift—an opportunity given by God for a purpose. Until our status changes, it remains a gift we are called to steward.

Singleness is not only a gift from God but also a gift for God. Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, emphasizing that unmarried individuals have a unique opportunity to focus on pleasing the Lord without divided responsibilities. This elevates singleness as equally valuable and purposeful as marriage.

Without the demands of a spouse or children, single people often have greater flexibility to pour time and energy into ministry, relationships, and community. Their lives can reflect God’s self-sacrificial love in unique ways. The Church must embrace and celebrate singles not as “potential spouses” but as vital members of the body of Christ.

Of course, singleness isn’t without its challenges. Loneliness and societal pressure can weigh heavily. But let us remember that marriage, too, comes with difficulties and sacrifices. Neither status guarantees happiness. Both singleness and marriage point us to our ultimate source of fulfillment: Christ.
 
As Elisabeth Elliot wisely said, “We do not choose our gifts. We are given them by a divine Giver who knows the end from the beginning and wants, above all else, to give us the gift of Himself.”

Jesus acknowledges the challenges of singleness and marriage in Matthew 19:10-12, saying, “Some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can” (NLT). Both paths require God’s grace to navigate faithfully.

If singleness is a gift from God and for God, it is also a gift by God—a status lived out through His strength. This means trusting Him in moments of loneliness and embracing opportunities to serve Him. The Church must provide true community, ensuring no single person feels isolated.

As Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NLT). The deepest love is found in self-sacrificial relationships within the family of faith.

For singles, celebrating singleness means embracing life with gratitude and using time and resources to serve God. For married individuals, it means valuing single friends as whole and significant members of God’s Kingdom. Together, as the Church, we reflect the diverse beauty of the body of Christ.

Whether single or married, we are called to the same purpose: to love God and love others. Let us celebrate the unique gifts God has given each of us, pointing one another toward joy and fulfillment in Him.