Question and Answer
I’m a man in my late 20s, and I’m still single. I frequently get teased about being single. It’s not that I don’t want to get married; I just haven’t found the right person. The apostle Paul seems to think that there is a place for celibacy for some believers who have the gift of singleness. I’m not sure that’s me, but if that’s God’s plan for me, then it’s a good plan. How do I know whether this is God’s plan for me?
No one should be ridiculed for being single, especially not by other Christians. Some people have a clear sense of being called to singleness, but many others don’t have a specific calling but rather experience singleness as their situation in life, even if it’s not their choice. In 1 Corinthians 7, the apostle Paul noted that often single people have fewer responsibilities at home and so more time to devote to ministry (1 Cor. 7:32–34). A married couple might be tempted to forget their responsibilities to each other if they become too busy with other ministries.
But the clear testimony of Scripture is that God uses all people, whether single or married. All of us have an obligation to seek to serve the Lord, no matter our marital status (1 Cor. 7:17). And we should never belittle those who are in a different marital state than ourselves. Instead, we should value the gifts that God has given to each one.
BY Mike Kellogg
Mike Kellogg worked with Moody Radio for more than 40 years, beginning in 1972. For many years he was the reader on Continued Story and began hosting Music Thru the Night in 1982. He also read the Today in the Word devotional for Moody Radio for many years. In July 2014, Mike retired from full-time radio. He is a graduate of Cedarville University, and has served as adjunct faculty in English and Speech Communications at Moody Bible Institute. He is married to Nancy, and they have 6 children and 16 grandchildren.