God's Plan for Singles

Love and Marriage • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Theme: God gives singles to demonstrate distractionless devotion. Purpose: To understand singles purpose in the Kingdom and to support them. Gospel: Singles point us to devotion in Christ's Return. Mission: Singles can disciple us in devotion to God.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction:

5-What is God’s Plan for Single People?

Matthew 19:10–12 NIV

The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Matthew

6-8:

9-Explaining Eunichs -

According to the context, Jesus’ main reason for bringing up the eunuch is to highlight and celebrate the vocation of singleness. Notice that it’s the disciples’ statement, “it is better not to marry!” (19:10), which triggers Jesus’ eunuch statement in 19:12. Eunuchs were single largely because they couldn’t have children (see below). As such, eunuchs were also considered outcasts due to their inability to marry and produce offspring—the raison d’etre of Jewish manhood.

bringing up the eunuch is to highlight and celebrate

the vocation of singleness. Notice that it’s the

disciples’ statement, “it is better not to marry!”

(19:10), which triggers Jesus’ eunuch statement in

19:12. Eunuchs were single largely because they

couldn’t have children (see below). As such,

eunuchs were also considered outcasts due to their

inability to marry and produce ospring—the raison

d’etre of Jewish manhood.

Any ambiguity over who eunuchs were had to do primarily with gender expectations based on cultural stereotypes and not biological sex. - Preston Sprinkle, “Biblical Conversation about Transgender Identities”, from Center on Faith, Sexuality, and Gender.

ambiguity over who eunuchs were had to do

primarily with gender expectations based on

cultural stereotypes and not biological sex.

Jesus lifts up

This teaching is in response to the High-Bar that Jesus gives for Marriage, If the commitment of marriage for life is too high, then how about celibate for life? - Both are high bars.

In the context of modern discussions about homosexual orientation it might be suggested that it includes also those who are psychologically disinclined to heterosexual intercourse and thus debarred from fatherhood, but evidence for such an understanding of homosexuality in the ancient world is hard to find. Most references to homosexual behavior in the ancient world are to what we now call bisexuality, the choice of some who are capable of heterosexual intercourse to find sexual fulfillment also (or instead) with members of their own sex. Such a choice could hardly be described as being “born a eunuch,” and the idea of an innate and irreversible homosexual orientation belongs to modern Western psychology rather than to the world in which Jesus lived.

France, R. T.. The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) (p. 725). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

This teaching is in response to the High-Bar that Jesus gives for Marriage, If the commitment of marriage for life is too high, then how about celibate for life? - Both are high bars.

France, R. T.. The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) (pp. 724-725). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

This teaching is in response to the High-Bar that Jesus gives for Marriage, If the commitment of marriage for life is too high, then how about celibate for life? - Both are high bars.

Jesus honors singles, by being single, ie living out this passage.

The Story of a Society that idolizes marriage and human sexuality.

10-15: Catechims Q&A: 7&8

16: Singles Demonstrate Distraction less Devotion to God.

Paul we know at one time was single, but not all of the disciples.

At least some of Jesus' disciples were married. Matthew writes directly about Peter's mother-in-law (), and Paul references other disciples being married in when he says he has a right to marry a believing woman because Peter, Jesus' brothers, and other apostles had married. However, Paul was not married, at least at the time of his writings. - compellingtruth.org

Paul and 1 Corinthians background - Divisions in the church, this passage is addressing a division between two parties - the Aschetics “No sex, and no marriage at all - it is a sin,” The Free in everything group - There are no barriers (man who is having relations with his mother-in-law, and those having relations with temple prostitutes.)

17-32:

1 Corinthians 7:25-

1 Corinthians 7:25–40 ESV

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

33: Paul affirms Jesus’ teaching Marriage with sexual union between a man and a women is good, and the single celibate life is good. They are based on God’s calling.

Gospel perspective.

Like Marriage the single life is also marked by living out the Gospel. It is a life of self-sacrifice, mutual submission in the church, and devotion to God.

Marriage sacrifices and serves both one’s spouse, and children, as well as the Church and the world. There is certainly a gain with a level of support and love from family, but one thing that is sacrificed is time to singular devotion to God.

Singles sacrifice the immediate support of family, but the gain is more focused time on others and the mission of God.

The Challenge - Both are called to serve God in different ways, and Both are called to Community but with a different structure. Marrieds struggle with enough time with God, but singles perhaps with community/lonileness.

The Gospel Context - Now, but not Yet. - “Present Distress” Singleness in the Bible seems to be lifted up with the coming of Jesus and in to Eternity. Like last week, “In the Resurrection their is no marriage or giving into marriage” So both Paul and Jesus embrace and lift up single people as a sign of the new heaven and new earth.

A Sign - We are not called to envy, but to live out our callings.

34-36: Catechism Q&A: 9

37-Why Does it Matter?

In a world that combines the idolization of sex, and a historical idolization of marriage (ie. two good things God created, but we humans/society has made the source of our ultimate fulfillment). Then the only alternative for people who want to find ultimate fulfillment, but can not or are not called to a one woman/one man marriage, is to find that fulfillment outside of marriage or to fight for same-sex marriage.

This is how Jesus’ teaching and the Gospel’s teaching about the honor of being single is important. It offers an alternative view of what it means to receive ultimate fulfillment, and it honors those who take the path of the single celibate life, as a path equal to marriage.

Our Challenge (not just our church but the church universal) is to change our vision and support for single folks. This is perhaps one of the things we have not done well (church at large). We have raised up marriage as a higher calling then being single, and many churches have not done well to be of adequate support to single people.

38-How Can the Church Support Single People?

The first way to support single people is to allow kids to find their calling - marriage or single. In other words, parents and church, do not pressure, but come alongside young people to help them find their calling in this area. You might want grandkids, but is it about you. It is OK to say you want grandkids, but that is different than pressuring young people into relationships.

My high school story of ceasing my pursuit of a girlfriend.

Surge Network Meeting: Speaker I do not remember, but the topic was on holding a traditional Biblical View of Marriage while loving people in the church who have same-sex attraction. (obviously most single people are not same-sex attracted, but the call in the Bible is for same-sex attracted people are to live celibate single lives, or to go against their desires and marry someone of the opposite sex, both are a call of self-sacrifice)

The Speaker pointed out that both are difficult, and I remember him making this statement, “If you ask people to be celibate you better be committed to be their community.”

Spiritual Friendships: For those who hold a traditional view of Biblical Sexuality, how do we have Spiritual freindships with those who are single?

Soul to Soul - Jonathan joined David in his will, emotions, desires, and plans.

Attached - Always means joining someone in some sort of plan, Judah for Benjamin, or on the negative joining in a conspiracy.

Giving of Jonathan’s cloak/Armor - A sign that Jonathan is giving over his right to the Kingship to David.

Love - Does not usually mean romantic love.

āhēb frequently describes love between human beings. The love of father for son is exemplified by Abraham and Isaac () and Israel and Joseph (). A slave might “love” his master and wish to identure himself to him for the rest of his life (). This is the word used in the rule “love your neighbor as yourself” (). “Love” of the stranger is also incumbent on the faithful (). Samson had apparently told Delilah that he “loved” her (Jud 14:16; 16:15). Ruth “loved” Naomi her mother-in-law (4:15), Elkanah “loved” his wife Hannah (), and Rebekah “loved” her son Jacob (). Hiram’s “love” for David illustrates international friendship or irenic politics between the two (). Notice that nowhere is the love of children toward parents mentioned. Rather, they are to honor, revere, and obey. - Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 29 אָהֵב

The noun ʾahăbâ describes the love of husband toward wife, as that of Jacob for Rachel (Gen 29:20). God’s “love” for his people is designated by the same word (Deut 7:8; II Chr 2:11; et al.). Jonathan’s affection for David is also ʾahăbâ (I Sam 18:3; 20:17; cf. II Sam 1:26).

ʾahăbâ occurs frequently in the wisdom literature and a few times in the latter prophets. Proverbs uses the word in its most abstract form: “love covers all sins” (10:12), “better a dinner where love is” (15:17; cf. Eccl 9:1, 6). Naturally, the word is used in the Song of Solomon. It is the term for “love” in several familiar verses. “His banner over me is love” (2:4). “I am sick of love” (2:5; 5:8). “Love is strong as death” (8:6). “Many waters cannot quench love” (8:7).

Ruth and Naomi

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 23

14 David remained in the wilderness, in the strongholds, and in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him ⌊continually⌋, but God did not give him into his hand. 15 When David realized that Saul had gone out to seek his life, David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 So Jonathan the son of Saul got up and went to David at Horesh, and ⌊encouraged him⌋ through God. 17 He said to him, “Do not be afraid, for the hand of my father Saul will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and ⌊I will be second to you⌋. My father Saul knows this also.” 18 Then the two of them ⌊made⌋ a covenant before Yahweh. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went to his house.

Ruth and Naomi - Ruth Clinging to Naomi despite all odds of survival.

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 398 דָּבַק

Parts of the body are said to stick to various objects. Psalm 44:25 says “our belly cleaveth unto the earth” and Ps 119:25, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust.” Of one of David’s mighty men it is said that he slew Philistines until “’his hand clave unto the sword” (II Sam 23:10).

dābaq also carries the sense of clinging to someone in affection and loyalty. Man is to cleave to his wife (Gen 2:24). Ruth clave to Naomi (Ruth 1:14). The men of Judah clave to David their king during Sheba’s rebellion (II Sam 20:2). Shechem loved Dinah and clave to her (Gen 34:3) and Solomon clave in love to his wives (I Kgs 11:2).

Most importantly, the Israelites are to cleave to the Lord in affection and loyalty (Deut 10:20; 11:22; 13:4 [H 5]; 30:20; Josh 22:5; 23:8) if his blessing is to be theirs. In Jer 13:11 it is said that the Lord caused the Israelites to cleave to him, and Hezekiah is approved because he clave to the Lord. In these verses parallel words and phrases that describe this proper attitude to the Lord are: fear, serve, love, obey, swear by his name, walk in his ways, and keep his commandments.

dābaq also means to keep close to someone, and doubtless this sense is included in references admonishing God’s people to cleave to him. But God is never the subject of the verb.

Boaz counsels Ruth to keep “fast by my maidens” (2:8, 21) and so she did (v. 23). In the causative form. dābaq means to pursue or even overtake someone, usually in a hostile sense. Laban overtakes Jacob in Gilead (Gen 31:23), and Micah overtakes the children of Dan (Jud 18:22), but the Israelites “pursued hard” after a group of the Benjamites (Jud 20:45) and later, after the Philistines (I Sam 14:22). Also, the Philistines “followed hard” upon Saul (I Sam 31:2; I Chr 10:2).

Sickness or pestilence or evil, too, is said to overtake or adhere to people (Gen 19:19; Deut 28:21, 60: II Kgs 5:27). But the iron and the clay of the toes of the image in Dan 2 will not stick to (KJV “cleave”) each other (v. 43).

Spiritual Friendships: For those who hold a traditional view of Biblical Sexuality, how do we have Spiritual freindships with those who are single?

Christ-Centered Friendships is more than abstaining from sexuality and romance, but is a relationship that walks along side people for their broader spiritual relationships.

Conclusion:

David and Jonathan

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