Is It Better to Be Single?

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What does the Bible say about being single and celibate? Is it better to stay unmarried? What are the advantages of not marrying?

The Bible in general, along with Jesus and Paul in particular, regarded celibacy as a higher calling than marriage. This, however, begs another question. Why are some called of God to stay single while others are not?

Many men of faith in the Bible did not lead a single life but were married. Some of these include Abraham, David, Noah, Isaiah, Peter, Job, Moses, Joseph and many others.

God's word indicates that those who choose to be celibate (single), so that they could dedicate themselves to serve, include Daniel (who was likely a Eunuch), John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jesus Christ. Part of the difference between those who serve and are married, and those who live without mates, is due to each person's sex drive. 

Marriage is permitted

God knows humans (he did make us) and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure (1Corinthians 10:13).  The Apostle Paul was aware of this, so although he places the state of being single as being spiritually superior to the married state, he made it crystal clear it was not a sin to marry (1Corinthians 7:27 - 28). 

Paul states it is not a sin to marry nor is the sex act itself, within marriage, a sin (1Corinthians 7:1 - 7). These Bible verses, especially verse 2, helps explain why He said the married state was not a sin, but it was still a lower spiritual state than celibacy.

Interestingly, Jesus gave similar reasoning to the disciples when they questioned His condemnation of easy divorce laws. He told them, "For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb . . . and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it" (Matthew 19:12).

The verses in 1Corinthians 7 merely make it clear that those who are not able to receive Jesus' teaching are not sinning when they marry to avoid burning with passion. In 1Corinthians 7:32 - 35 Paul explains his reasoning behind encouraging believers to maintain their status as a single.

Single and dedicated to God

The apostle states that married people are more divided in their interests in serving God compared to the devoted single man or woman.  In 1Corinthians 7:26 he mentions the "present distress" as a reason to gravitate toward celibacy, but that cannot be deemed as a universally applicable reason that applies to all Christians at all times.

Paul is merely pointing out, given the state of the world when he wrote his letter, that pursuing celibacy, if at all possible, would spare people the worldly troubles resulting from becoming married.  In a parallel Biblical warning, Jesus warns women who will be pregnant or have to nurse children, during the great tribulation (and not at other times), that they will wish they did not have such burdens (Matthew 24:19).

In these Bible comparisons of the marital state versus being single, we should avoid thinking that married people are sinning because they were unable to control their sexual drives and therefore needed matrimony in order to handle their lusts.

A single man burning with passion, even if he is not actually having sex with women (Matthew 5:27 - 28), sins badly, but a married man and woman making love to each other do not sin at all. 

The biggest disadvantage of the married state versus celibacy is that it takes a good chunk of time away from dedicated service to God. Those who are married must spend time helping and pleasing not only their mates but also tending to the needs of their children.

Those who have embraced being single are not burdened by the care of a mate or children. They can dedicate far more of their time and resources serving the Eternal, and doing Bible study, than their married friends. Those who are able to live under such an arrangement, who also wish to serve God, should take on their high calling and do it with all of their might.

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