“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
(Romans 8: 14)
We have been told that in this life we shall be persecuted for being
followers of Jesus. As a single man, I must warn you that you shall be
persecuted for your single state. Not so much by the world, which will
attack you at the point of your pride by saying that you are not a man
until you have a physical relationship with a woman. This is fairly
simple to overcome, but you will suffer persecution from the tongues of
some professing believers who are married. They will not come out and
teach these falsehoods as being fact , but they will allude to them or
imply them through comments or just by their general attitude towards
singleness. This is not so much a matter of teaching direct and obvious
error, but of the truth either being mistaught or ignored. Here are some
statements that you might hear.
You are going against the will of God by not marrying.
Is this not putting the will of God in a box? You might think about this
for it places the unmarried, the widows, and the partners of failed
marriages under a tremendous guilt trip.
You cannot truly know the love of God unless you are married.
This is a real falsehood when we look at the many single men who down
through the ages have known the Lord, dedicated their lives to Him and
served Him with all of their heart (Please refer to Romans 8:38-39). {And
I Corinthians 7:32, 33}
You can never teach upon the wife and husband relationship because you
are not married.
The Apostle Paul was not married (according to the scriptures) and yet we
find beautiful words of instruction used in his description of the
marriage bond.
You can never teach upon the raising of children, because you have none.
We have children in Christ and our example and teachings are important to
them. We are to set forth a godly role model, and in doing this we are
not totally without means (Please refer back to part 7)
If you have heard or know of anyone who believes in one of these
statements, pray for them, and be not caught up in engaging in a battle
with a mind-set that is rooted in pride and self. As you talk with them,
question them as to what they believe about the power of the Holy Spirit.
In their understanding you may find some deep error as to the Holy
Spirit, for throughout scripture there are those men who taught beyond
their circumstances. They were called of God and empowered by the Holy
Spirit to minister in ways beyond their years and experiences. They did
not need to go through the schools of man or follow a certain pathway to
be used of God. Why must we be married to speak upon the subjects of the
home? Must a preacher experience all of the sins of the day to preach
against sin? The apostle Paul said this:
“...Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of
God given unto me by the effectual workings of His power. (Ephesians 3:7)
As a single man of God, you may find yourself doing things where you have
no clue as to what it all means. You may be called upon to share
scriptures and to counsel in cases of unfaithfulness in marriage. There
may be other issues pertaining to life which we must encounter, and to
the word of God we can turn and find answers in those times of need.
Married people are not the only ones that can obtain knowledge of such
things, for the power of the Holy Spirit is able to do great things in
giving us the words to speak. Singleness does not leave one powerless if
we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The implication that we
are hindered by our singleness is a mindset that many are buying into,
for they are caught up in the outward appearance.
Now we must believe and understand these scriptures discussed above or
the false statements of others will greatly irritate and cause us
problems. The only counter to error or heresy is the word of God. And
Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He [the Holy Spirit] may abide with you for ever; even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him
not, neither knoweth Him: but you know Him; for He dwelleth with you and
shall be in you.” “But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
(John 14:16-17, 26)
We may be limited in certain areas of practice, but by the power of God
there can come through us godly teachings that pertain to life. What you
may lack in experience can be taught to you by the Holy Spirit.
Experiences are wonderful, but beware lest they seduce you away from the
word of God.
“These things [the scriptures] have I written unto you concerning them
that seduce you. But the anointing which you have received of Him abideth
in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and
even as it hath taught you, you shall abide in Him [Christ]. (I John
2:26-27)
Every man must know the Lord and be prepared to suffer for the Lord’s
sake. There will be those who will despise your youth, attempt to lay
burdens upon you, and for staying single unto the Lord. Only in Him will
you be able to rise above these petty and earthly matters to the victory
in Jesus. Do not waiver in your pursuit of God and His word. Nothing is
impossible with God! I leave you with these exhortations:
“If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on
things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life
is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)
“There is no Jew nor Greek; there is no bondman nor freeman; there is no
male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus...” (Galatians 3:28)
M. H. G.
E-Mail Matthew H Goins