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Author: Paul Codouni, from the Servants of the Word, an international, ecumenical brotherhood of men living single for the Lord.

The Advantage of Remaining Single

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul is convincing his readers of the value of giving up marriage for the sake of the kingdom. He says: “To the unmarried … I say that it is well for them to remain single.” He continues and says, “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.” (1Co 7:8, 35).

Paul also tells his readers “I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.” (1Co 7:32-34).

All these verses are from First Corinthians 7. First Corinthians 7 is a whole chapter about staying single. Paul remained single himself, and he writes so much about singleness because he really wants his readers to understand it – to understand why it can be a real advantage in living for God.

I could tell you more about what Paul wrote on singleness. But I think it’s better for you to see for yourself. Read First Corinthians 7. Read what Paul wrote on singleness, and as you do so, try to better understand why God calls some people to give up marriage for the sake of the kingdom.

Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.