28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
Paul was asked a question by the church at Corinth about marriage. Because of the troubling times in which he lived, he gave the advice that staying single is better. Marriage is allowed, but in trying times, singleness has its advantages. When we are married we must always consider our spouse’s needs. And then along comes the children. Do you remember the times when your children were very little and you wanted to go out for a quick trip to the store? There was no such thing as a quick trip. Diaper bags, bottle, pacifier, blanket, wipes, car seat…. It always seemed that we forgot something. Gather everything, out of the house, into the car, out of the car, into the store, out of the store, into the car, out of the car, into the house. Exhaustion! Singleness does not have these constraints. Singleness allows greater freedom to come and go, to be ready at a moment’s notice to respond to the needs of another. Singleness has a downside as well: loneliness. When you are married you have a built in support network. When you are single, you must seek out that connection in a world of couples. Each state, married or single, has its own upside and downside. For Paul, who was single at the time he wrote his answers, singleness had its advantages. I could not be single. I need the close connection that my wife provides. I get very lonely when I don’t have her to connect to. Singleness would be extremely difficult for me. I would not starve to death, but it would be a distinct challenge for me. I am sure the Lord would provide the grace needed if that time arose, but it would be a very difficult adjustment. There is a grace available for each state, single and married. Are you receiving that grace for your life?
The Arnold Journey 