Are Single People More Spiritual?

A

A263149

(NASB)1 Corinthians 7:38-40
So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better. [39] A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. [40] But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

This whole idea of doing better is what puzzles me. Do single people really do better spiritually? Sometimes the opposite seems to be true. What do you think?
 
A263149 said:
(NASB)1 Corinthians 7:38-40
So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better. [39] A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. [40] But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

This whole idea of doing better is what puzzles me. Do single people really do better spiritually? Sometimes the opposite seems to be true. What do you think?
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No doubt about it... IF one can through the grace of God, have power over certain physical desires.. the single person can live a much more focused life in devotion to the Lord. But....I don't think that's Gods will for everyone or even most believers?
 
Mitspa said:
No doubt about it... IF one can through the grace of God, have power over certain physical desires.. the single person can live a much more focused life in devotion to the Lord. But....I don't think that's Gods will for everyone or even most believers?
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I don't agree completely! :) Even Biblically, great heroes were married.. People who were called by the Lord as "friend" or "man after my own heart" were married.. It does certainly help.. But God is able to use a married and unmarried men equally well.
 
I saw this thread http://www.christianforumsite.com/index.php?threads/37376/ which seems to touch on some of the same points as this topic and yet not quite the same.

I guess the way I am thinking of it is that the far majority of pastors are married. Most prophetic people are married. To me it seems as though single people are often seemingly less anointed somehow. I know that we can sometimes find the exceptions but they don't seem to be in the majority.
 
A263149 said:
I saw this thread http://www.christianforumsite.com/index.php?threads/37376/ which seems to touch on some of the same points as this topic and yet not quite the same.

I guess the way I am thinking of it is that the far majority of pastors are married. Most prophetic people are married. To me it seems as though single people are often seemingly less anointed somehow. I know that we can sometimes find the exceptions but they don't seem to be in the majority.
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I might agree with the Pastors...but the "prophets" of God would be called to a more singular and focused lifestyle. I think we see that pattern in the scriptures and their may be less than a half dozen true prophets of God...alive on this earth today? I am aware of one.
 
A263149 said:
I saw this thread http://www.christianforumsite.com/index.php?threads/37376/ which seems to touch on some of the same points as this topic and yet not quite the same.

I guess the way I am thinking of it is that the far majority of pastors are married. Most prophetic people are married. To me it seems as though single people are often seemingly less anointed somehow. I know that we can sometimes find the exceptions but they don't seem to be in the majority.
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This also I don't agree completely.. Being single has advantages.. That is, no commitments of providing for the family.. It comes with challenges as well.. Is it easy to control the desires of flesh? Absolutely no! I don't think a person's anointing would anyway depend on the marital status..
 
A263149 said:
(NASB)1 Corinthians 7:38-40
So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better. [39]
This whole idea of doing better is what puzzles me. Do single people really do better spiritually? Sometimes the opposite seems to be true. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I think single people sin more when they are single, especially in Tennessee. I think when you have a marriage partner, you also have someone that can watch you closely, and hold you more accountable. In my humble opinion.
 
A263149 said:
(NASB)1 Corinthians 7:38-40
So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better. [39] A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. [40] But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

This whole idea of doing better is what puzzles me. Do single people really do better spiritually? Sometimes the opposite seems to be true. What do you think?
Click to expand...
No because they don't have to be as spiritual by forgiving their spouses!!
 
I think that people that are truly focused on God are more spiritual. When my wife has days off I read my bible less and pray less because I have to spend time with her and take care of her.

The fact is, if you're married you significantly reduce the amount of time you can spend with God.
 
Huntingteckel said:
I think that people that are truly focused on God are more spiritual. When my wife has days off I read my bible less and pray less because I have to spend time with her and take care of her.

The fact is, if you're married you significantly reduce the amount of time you can spend with God.
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Humbly disagree. Marriage symbolizes Christ and his bride the church. Every moment in marriage is a reminder of God, thus increasing your focus on God through your marriage which is a convenient between man, woman, and God.

To be honest, it doesn't matter if a person is married or not. A true believer is going to look for God in everything, no matter the situation.
 
I agree to both the above posts.. If we "allow", then marriage could take away the time we spend with God.. But as Where quoted, marriage is not intended to take priority over relationship with God.. Marriage is a way to go into presence of God as a family.. It is very hard.. It is very easy for me and my wife to sit together and watch TV rather than discussing some Bible verses.. Through marriage, we have a partner to share our needs, share each others burden, help each other spiritually, dwell in Word of God together and so on.. The same relationship could be used the other way around.. So depart away from God.. So marriage cannot be used as a reason to say we don't have time.. Because it was intended to help us have more time with God in some ways :) Even a single person can easily get drifted away by spending time with friends or video games or TV!! We put a connection between marriage and spirituality as an excuse. But in reality, is there a direct connection?
 
The Corinthians at this time (between 54 - 58 A.D.) were undergoing the beginnings of a period of persecution under Nero....IMO Paul here is concerned for where there hearts would go should they need to be concerned for another...if you were seeing your daughter or spouse being tortured or ready to become lion food, would your faith be enough to endure? In such a historic setting I would also say better to remain single...
 
I think Paul is pretty clear on this in many places.

1Co_7:28 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.

1Co_7:9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1Co_7:33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
1Co_7:34 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.

1Co 7:38-40 ESV So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. (39) 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. (40) Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

I'm sure there are other. So, we should only believe that this was for people in that time? The struggle is still very real today for Christian marriages. My father lost his faith because my mother is terribly ill (or a drug addict, depends on who you ask). It's harder for a person to keep his or her faith when their spouse is sick and dying whether they are being torn apart by lions or dying a slow death from cancer. Or, lets say that you have been married to a man who you thought was a strong Christian and after five years he tells you that he isn't attracted to women and is leaving you for a man. That really happens and it is very hard on your faith. If you remain single there is no chance of that happening because you don't have anyone that you are one flesh with. You are God's alone.
 
Huntingteckel said:
I'm sure there are other. So, we should only believe that this was for people in that time? The struggle is still very real today for Christian marriages. My father lost his faith because my mother is terribly ill (or a drug addict, depends on who you ask). It's harder for a person to keep his or her faith when their spouse is sick and dying whether they are being torn apart by lions or dying a slow death from cancer. Or, lets say that you have been married to a man who you thought was a strong Christian and after five years he tells you that he isn't attracted to women and is leaving you for a man. That really happens and it is very hard on your faith. If you remain single there is no chance of that happening because you don't have anyone that you are one flesh with. You are God's alone.
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I still feel these are mere excuses.. What if a person who is single knows he has some disease like AIDS or Cancer? What does that do to his faith? We are alone.. But our own flesh could bring the same terrible things which could come to our loved ones..
 
Hey, I'm just saying that I believe a Bible verse is true. If this was about the age of the earth or homosexuals then everyone would be saying that anyone who disagreed with a verse is wrong.
 
Huntingteckel said:
I think Paul is pretty clear on this in many places.

1Co_7:28 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.

1Co_7:9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1Co_7:33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
1Co_7:34 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.

1Co 7:38-40 ESV So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. (39) 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. (40) Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

I'm sure there are other. So, we should only believe that this was for people in that time? The struggle is still very real today for Christian marriages. My father lost his faith because my mother is terribly ill (or a drug addict, depends on who you ask). It's harder for a person to keep his or her faith when their spouse is sick and dying whether they are being torn apart by lions or dying a slow death from cancer. Or, lets say that you have been married to a man who you thought was a strong Christian and after five years he tells you that he isn't attracted to women and is leaving you for a man. That really happens and it is very hard on your faith. If you remain single there is no chance of that happening because you don't have anyone that you are one flesh with. You are God's alone.
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But it is not the only verse....better you should marry than burn with lust...marriage has been likened to the union of christ and His church...it is a blessed and Holy thing! And God blessed them and said be fruitful and multiply...cleaving to one another...Paul is not against God here, saying not to marry (a false doctrine Peter warns against)...he is saying it here for a reason.
 
I'm not saying that marriage isn't a blessing. I love my wife and I knew I wasn't meant to be single. Some people are called to be single and serve Him, and that would honestly be a bigger blessing, in my opinion.
 
Huntingteckel said:
Hey, I'm just saying that I believe a Bible verse is true. If this was about the age of the earth or homosexuals then everyone would be saying that anyone who disagreed with a verse is wrong.
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Verse 25 in that chapter is pretty interesting, in the context of that statement :)

Not that I disagree with Paul here. As a married person, I get what he's saying.

For the OP, I don't think "will do better" means "have a better/more spiritual life" (especially since that particular verse is about a parent, not the actual person getting married...) I think we're meant to read it: "So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage [makes a good decision], and he who does not give her in marriage [makes a better decision]."

This is an extreme idea for its time. Considering what gender roles looked like in the 1st century, the idea that a woman was better off not marrying would be like telling people they were living in the Matrix. Mind: blown.

I really don't think this passage is about being more spiritual or having a stronger faith, married vs single.

I'd suggest a reasonable paraphrase of the whole passage might be: If you're single, you're free to do what you want, when you want, without consulting or considering anyone else. So if you can manage it, why not just stay single, and spend all your time serving God? You can get married if you want, but it's going to make your life a lot more complicated, and you're not going to have that same degree of freedom to serve God with all your time anymore. But God made us all differently: some people need to get married so they don't sin, some don't, so do what you want. It's not a sin either way.
 
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