Married or single

I am teaching from Paul's writings in First Corinthians 7:25-40 this evening. We will explore marriage and singleness.

Here are four marital myths that we will talk about.

Myth number one: Marriage is the only God-ordained lifestyle. God looks favorably upon singles - as in the case of Jesus himself. He wasn't married and lived a fulfilled life (now that's an understatement).

Myth number two: The grass is greener on the other side of the matrimonial fence. Singles can think that if they get married - things would be better; and many married couples wish they were single again.

Here's something we need to know: If you get to the other side of the fence, you will learn that life is good and bad no matter which side you are on.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, the grass is always greener on the side of the fence that is being watered.

We need to rest in the Lord. Adam went to sleep and God brought a wife. What a great picture of waiting on the Lord. Singles are to commit their lives to serving the Lord and God will bring someone alongside who has the same heart.

To those who are married - we need to wait on the Lord and trust Him to work in our marriages for His blessings.

Myth number three: Your life plus someone else equals happiness. Our culture says that if we can just get the right person in our lives we'll be happy. Not true. If your aren't happy single - you won't be happy married.

Marriage does not create problems, marriage reveals problems. We are to be content (as Paul writes in Philippians 4:11,12) in whatever state we find ourselves in. And really, isn't our ultimate happiness only found through Christ?

Myth number four: Singleness produces loneliness, while marriage produces intimacy. There are many singles that are not lonely and there are many married people who are.

They key: we are to find our fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The writer to the Hebrews writes in Hebrews 13:5, "Be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Just some thoughts....