I am 51 years old, single, and have never been married. I recently spoke at a singles’ retreat which caused me to dust off some thoughts on singleness. The Bible is not silent on the topic as both Jesus and Paul directly address the issue of singleness.
Singleness is the eternal destiny of all the children of God.
In the kingdom of God, singleness is the eternal state of all of God’s children, for in eternity there will not be marriage. Jesus teaches, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).
All begin their lives as single, and though marriage may be a part of their story, all will be single throughout eternity.
Ah, not neccesarily true.
The bible only says we won’t be married. It never says we will be single.
I think our existence in heaven will neither be “married” or “single” like we know them here on earth. A state of completeness of some sort.
Hmmm, does the bible really say we won’t be married in heaven, or that we won’t be given in marriage to each other? What about the great wedding feast of the Lamb? What about the great Bridegroom Christ now joined together with His long expected Bride? In view of these passages it becomes clear that earthly marriage as we now experience it is given by God as an illustration of what is to come, the real thing! Thus marriage is a picture of Christ and His Bride the Church. It is a means of displaying the gospel, which is the primary thrust of all biblical revelation on this subject and appears to be the source of God’s jealousy to defend it. Also, this has a way of putting marrieds and singles (I speak as a married man) on the same level, in that what we strive to image forth in our marriage, is our marriage to Christ. And for singles, what they strive to image forth in their singleness, is their marriage to Christ.