As Christians we know that the core of why we exist is to bring glory to God’s name and so all our lives we seek what pleases God - our chief joy. (Revelation 4:11)“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” [NLT].
What this article will do is probe our desires when it comes to marriage. A common way to test an action is to ask the question WHY. ‘…The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).
At the point of salvation, the pronoun ‘I’ left your Dictionary. It became 'His desires are my desires'. Hence why people have the question of whether marriage is a commandment.
Although there's no specific moment where God commanded marriage, it's important to examine everything carefully and stick to what we know is true (1 Thessalonians 5:21)but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. [NLT]. Marriage is honorable (Hebrews 13:4)Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. [NLT]. As a believer, we are commanded to honor marriage because God created it and all that God created is good (1 Timothy 4:4-5)4. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.
5. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.. Also, it points to the mystery of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32)This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one [NLT]..
Almost everyone loves marriage and the idea of it. However, some people are of the opinion that marriage isn’t for everybody and some people are called to a life of celibate service. We see this in the account of Matthew when the disciples asked Jesus if it was better not to marry (Matthew 19:11-12)11. “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps.
12. Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” [NLT]. Jesus explains to the disciples that to remain unmarried requires a calling or a measure of grace and it is typically ‘for the sake of the kingdom.’
Also we see Apostle Paul in his admonition to the Corithians on whether it is advisable to be married. To this he said an unmarried person is concerned about the Kingdom alone with his heart undivided. However, marriage is a condition of life that brings care along with it. Therefore, whether marriage or not, a decision on such a condition of life should be based on the likelihood of you having the best help, and the fewest hindrances, in the service of God and the affairs of your salvation. (1 Corinthians 7:32-34).32. I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him.
33. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.
34. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband [NLT].
If your reason for not getting married is other than these (above), the challenge is to consider your views in line with what scripture teaches; as well as pray to God to search your desires and make them aligned to his will. If your desire to pass on marriage is to be free, without the burden of a partner or otherwise the freedom to do your own thing, you will be pursuing a version of sinlessness that is not in line with scriptures. A part of Godly maturity is that our desires and actions are aligned with scriptures and much more than our will, His will prevails above all (Luke 22:42)“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” [NLT].
