Gift of singleness (獨身/守童身) - do you have it?

I remember my wife (while we were courting) telling me that she wants to remain single so that she can serve the Lord wholeheartedly. I didn't feel good about that mainly because we were in a relationship after all, but I didn't want to talk her "out" of that idea. We were discerning, waiting ... to see how the future would hold.

Years later, we got married and now we are a happy family with 2 adorable kids!!! It's so good to have a family where we feel connected, loved, important, needed, cared for etc. Why would anybody want to be single?

The apostle Paul talks about the gift of remaining single just as he was, so that people can become [solely] concerned about the Lord's affairs ... in undivided devotion to the Lord, while those married people are concerned about the affairs of this world (1 Cor 7:32-35). If this is so beneficial, then for all people in ministry, shouldn't they remain or become single? It will be contrary to biblical teaching if you are married and want to get divorced (for non-adulterous reasons).

Singleness or not is a gift ultimately, and it is the Lord to decide who gets the gift of singleness or the other.

In my trip to Sydney, I met a Dallas professor, Dr Abraham Kuruvilla, who chose to remain single (certainly it's a gift) for the purpose of ministry (including teaching, preaching and research). I am starting to appreciate more the single-mindedness and undivided devotion of the single people to the Lord when it comes to ministry.

With Dr Kuruvilla, I can see a person who is 100% devoted to the things of the Lord. He is teaching in Dallas full time, yet having his medical practice part time, and then doing research and currently writing a commentary on the gospel of Mark. This is so encouraging to see!

Anyway, I'm a happily married and contented man, and I'm thankful for my gift too. How about you?

There are more resources in what follows for your thoughts:

Making singleness better

Purposeful singleness [website]