Singleness: Embrace Your Calling

Embracing Your Calling: Finding Purpose in Your Relationship Status

Have you ever felt like your relationship status was holding you back from fully living out God’s purpose for your life? Whether you’re single, married, or somewhere in between, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that our marital status defines us. But what if I told you that your relationship status is actually a calling from God?

In a recent sermon, we explored this powerful truth and discovered how we can embrace our calling, regardless of our relationship status. Let’s dive into what God’s Word has to say about this important topic.

Our Relationship with Jesus is Above All

The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3 that our relationship with Jesus should be our top priority. He writes, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). This means that whether we’re married or single, our primary focus should be on growing closer to Jesus.

As I shared in the sermon, “If we don’t depend on [our spouse] to fulfill this need that only Jesus can fulfill of joy, peace, contentment, then they don’t have to fill that and they can’t.” Our relationship with Jesus is the foundation for all other relationships in our lives.

All Our Relationships are About Jesus

When we understand that our relationship with Jesus is paramount, it changes how we view all other relationships, including marriage. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul discusses marriage and singleness, emphasizing that both are gifts from God.

“Each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:7. This means that whether you’re single or married, your relationship status is a gift from God, designed to help you grow closer to Him and serve His purposes.

I explained in the sermon, “Our marriages and marriage in general is a picture of Christ in the church and His love and a covenant bond between two people pictures Christ and the church.” This perspective helps us see that all our relationships, including our marital status, are ultimately about reflecting Jesus to the world.

Your Relationship Status is a Calling

Here’s the game-changer: your current relationship status is not an accident or a mistake. It’s a calling from God. As we read in 1 Corinthians 7:17, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him.”

This means that if you’re single, God has called you to singleness for this season of your life. If you’re married, God has called you to marriage. Both are equally valuable and important in God’s eyes.

I challenged the congregation with this thought: “How often do we look at things that we struggle with not having as God’s gift of grace in my life?” Instead of viewing our relationship status as a limitation, we can embrace it as an opportunity to serve God and grow in our faith.

Putting It Into Practice

So, how can we embrace our calling and live out our relationship status for God’s glory? Here are some practical steps:

1. Prioritize your relationship with Jesus: Spend time in prayer and Bible study, focusing on growing closer to Christ above all else.
2. Use your gift to serve others: Whether you’re single or married, look for ways to use your unique situation to serve others in the church and community.
3. Show hospitality: As I mentioned in the sermon, “How do we love one another? How do I love my single friends? I have them over in my house.” Practice hospitality, inviting people of different relationship statuses into your home and life.
4. Embrace your season: Instead of wishing for a different relationship status, ask God how you can best serve Him in your current season.
5. Support one another: Create a culture in your church where both singles and married couples are valued and included in ministry and fellowship.

Remember, your relationship status is not just about you—it’s about Jesus. As we embrace our calling, whether single or married, we have the opportunity to reflect Christ’s love to the world in unique and powerful ways.

Let’s challenge ourselves to see our relationship status through God’s eyes and embrace the calling He has placed on our lives. After all, as Paul reminds us, “The end of all things is at hand… Above all, keep loving one another earnestly” (1 Peter 4:7-8).