BAD THINGS GOOD PEOPLE - NYOBS 61.10

BAD THINGS GOOD PEOPLE

Why me Lord? – I keep your commandments – Balance the scales of justice.

First Word

·         Why do we see EVIL PEOPLE enjoying life, prospering and having fun? – Why would an all knowing and all powerful God allow that to happen? – CONUNDRUM; we bring an accusation against God; He is both not all-powerful and not all-knowing or He is just not ALL-GOOD.

·         We are experiencing painful circumstances, broken relationships, being falsely accused or maybe being fired from our job.  We have an illness, acute pain and physical problems. – How can a loving God allow such things?

·         Our struggle is the belief that because of our Faith in Jesus Christ we are guaranteed a good life on earth, and the Bible just does not teach that, rather it teaches that there will be a struggle on earth. – Bad things will happen to Good people.

·         Considering why BAD things happen to GOOD people, the Holy Scriptures say that there are NOT any good people, God alone is good. – End of Word Study. - 

·         There are people who we consider Good because they don’t lie, cheat or steal, they are honest, generous, compassionate and treat others well.  They are not perfect, but they are certainly trying to live out a Christian life.  Why does bad stuff happen to them?

·         My Friend Mitch Martinez took his whole family to the Dominican Republic to be a missionary.  When his daughter Ruthie finished college and returned to be a missionary also, she was killed in an automobile accident.  Why would God let that happen?

·         How good is good? Is there a line that you cross in doing good stuff that isolates you from the bad stuff?  Should a bad thing be stopped if it leads to a Good thing, or should we just trust God? – Our salvation is not based on our good works, but on His good grace.

·         This is going to be hard to accept, but ALL THINGS work according to the purpose of God’s Will; nothing happens without His permission. – When you complain about your circumstances, you are complaining against God.

·         Now that you are “in the pits” and have just learned that you are not deemed a “GOOD” person, you should reflect back over your lifetime and ask the question; why did so many GOOD THINGS happened to me that I did not deserve?

Romans 3:12 - No one does good, not even one
¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; NO ONE does good, not even one.” (ESV)

Luke 18:18-19 – There is NONE GOOD except God
¹⁸ And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:11 – Nothing occurs without God’s permission
¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works ALL things according to the counsel of his will,

(ESV)

Romans 8:28 - All things work together for good for His Purpose
²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his PURPOSE. (ESV)

Why do we have Evil?

·         Misfortunes come in the form of bad people, bad luck and bad choices along with their inevitable consequences in a world of inflexible natural laws. - We can expect to have heartaches, disappointments, sorrow, suffering and tragedy, financial disasters, divorce, death, abuse, and illness. -  We must deal with Moral Evil as well as Natural Evil in this world.

·         Moral Evil – We chose to have two world wars, genocides, ethnic cleansing, betrayal, and crime. -  We chose to be hateful, abusive, uncaring, selfish, arrogant, and to tear up relationships.  These are all choices

·         Natural Evil – Wild fires ravaging houses; tsunamis flooding, destroying and taking lives; earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. – There is Illness, injuries, death, famine, disease and Aids.

·         The Earth is cursed, but it was not that way at creation; in the beginning the earth was not just good, it was VERY GOOD. – It was Adam and Eve who rebelled against God’s ways and allowed corruption to enter into our world.

·         They mystery of Evil – God is not the creator of Evil and Suffering, but He DID create the POTENTIAL for evil through our FREE WILL. - Through Freedom of Choice, Sin was allowed in the world.  We can choose to do the greatest good or we can choose to do the greatest evil.

·         Your hand can be used to take someone’s life or to reach out and save a life, you can steal from someone or feed them; it’s a choice. - Although pain and suffering isn’t GOOD, God can use it to accomplish GOOD. – From the worst of tragedies, EVEN YOURS, Good can emerge.

Genesis 1:31 - Everything that God made was VERY GOOD.
³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was VERY GOOD. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (ESV)

Genesis 3:17-19 – Earth became cursed with Thorns & Thistles
¹⁷ And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
¹⁸ THORNS AND THISTLES it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

(ESV)

Romans 8:22 - All creation has been groaning even until now
²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

(ESV)

Romans 3:23 - All have sinned
²³ for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God,

(ESV)

Romans 8:28 – God can use EVIL to bring about GOOD
²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for GOOD, for those who are called according to his purpose.

(ESV)

Satan is after your goods

·         You have promises of blessings that Satan is trying to prevent from reaching you. His greatest weapon is DISCOURAGEMENT, hoping you will give up on God.

·         God wants to bless you in the city and in the country; bless you with children and good crops, and increase of your cattle, your basket of supplies and you biscuit making bowl. – He wants to bless you when you leave and when you come back. – He will defeat your enemies before you.  – Your barns will overflow – He will give rain in its season and bless the work of your hands. – You will lend too many and not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – Satan is after your blessings
¹ And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
² And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.
³ Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
⁴ Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.
⁵ Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
⁶ Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
⁷ The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
⁸ The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
⁹ The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.
¹⁰ And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.
¹¹ And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.
¹² The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
¹³ And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,
¹⁴ and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

(ESV)

The Response

·         I just hate it when someone pats you on the arm and says “God is just trying to TEACH YOU SOMETHING”.  – (Well, what did you LEARN?)  - Or when they say “God is just TESTING YOU”.  – (Well, did you pass the test?) - When you are hurting, you don’t need a theological and intellectual response, what you need is relief and comfort.

·         Jesus said that in this world we WOULD have troubles and our understanding during these trials would be observed imperfectly; dimly as in a fog. – We will not understand. – His ways are past finding out.

·         God is not slack or slow in coming to your relief. – Just because He has not answered your petition for relief, does not mean that He won’t.

·         God does not change, but has LIMITED HIMSELF by the laws of nature, the human nature and man’s free will. -  The laws of nature will remain in effect until He returns.  The Earth is cursed and will remain cursed until He returns.  Our bodies are Sin bodies and are cursed with sickness and will remain cursed, until He returns, but in His mercy and grace, He provides for us A WAY TO ENDURE IT. – Pain awakens us to God.

·         In His Plan and in His Patience, He is waiting, giving a little more time for all to come to His saving grace, and He will make up for your time of sufferings with peace for eternity; we cannot imagine what He has already prepared - One day all our pain and suffering will cease. – It’s in the Book. –

John 16:33 - In the world you will have tribulation
³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)

1 Corinthians 13:12 - We see in a mirror dimly
¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Ecclesiastes 8:17 – Man cannot find out the works of God
¹⁷then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. (ESV)

2 Peter 3:9 – God is not slow, He is patiently waiting for you
⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

Revelation 21:4 – No more pain and suffering
⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

1 Corinthians 2:9 – We cannot imagine what God has prepared
⁹ But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (ESV)

1 Corinthians 10:13 – God provides a way to be able to endure it
¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be ABLE TO ENDURE IT. (ESV)

Testing Learning Obedience

·         We should not be surprised at the troubles, afflictions and suffering that comes upon us as some trials may be a testing from God. – Job’s Testing was not for the benefit of Job or for God; but for those observing.  - It was for Satan, the Angels and Job’s friends. 

·         Your testing is not for God’s benefit, your life is the “EXAM” by which others can know the answers to the test.  It brings believers into prayer and dependence on Him.

·         Scripture says that Jesus learned obedience through suffering. - Jesus did not need to learn obedience as He was perfect, but He gave us the example to follow.  Reaching out with heart felt tears, prayers and supplications we can learn obedience through our suffering.

·         Because we are His, we can expect to be chastised and disciplined with Course Corrections for our lives.  It does not come in the form of punishment with sickness or tribulations, but comes as the results of the consequences of our choices.

·         When a hand grenade is tossed into a fox hole, some are killed, some are wounded and some walk away untouched; why is that? – Our Sin bodies are like that, they are all different.  My “straight walking” Grandson died at the age of 21 from a car accident; my “wayward” Granddaughter with tears in her eyes spoke at his funeral, asking God “WHY HIM”, that should have been ME – If we just knew the reason or purpose of a tragedy or disappointment, we could bear nearly any pain.  – But God’s ways are just past finding out.

·         Solomon, the wisest man in the world said; TIME and CHANCE happens to all of us.

·         If you have Cancer or Parkinson’s disease; it’s not God trying to teach you something, or test you or chastise you.  - You just live in a sin body, which some folks will die early, some will just get wounded and some will some walk away unharmed.

·         Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy; Jesus came to give us life and give it more abundantly. – God is as outraged at your calamity as you are, and He will make it up to you in eternity.

Hebrews 5:7-8 – Jesus learned obedience through suffering
⁷  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
⁸ Although he was a son, HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE through what he suffered. (ESV)  

1 Peter 4:12 - Do not be surprised at the fiery trial
¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Proverbs 3:12 - The LORD disciplines the one He loves
¹² for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in. (HCSB)

Hebrews 12:6 The LORD chastises every son
⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (ESV)

John 10:10 – It is Satan that come to kill, steal and destroy
¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 9:11 - Time and chance happen to all of us
¹¹ Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (ESV)

Evil used for Good

·         Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, BUT God took what was meant for evil and turned it into Good.

·         Paul was whipped, beaten with rods, stoned, ship wrecked, adrift at sea, hungry, homeless, cold, rejected, imprisoned and in danger at every turn, but God’s power was made perfect in Paul’s weakness.  - We have his letters today to guide us in the way we should live our lives.  What was meant for Evil, God used for Good.

·         Jesus was despised, rejected, and held in low esteem, people hid their faces from Him, He was a man of sorrows, suffered with pain and was crucified on the cross. -  What was meant for Evil, God used to affect the entire universe for Good and gave us a way back to Him. God can take the worst negative circumstance IN YOUR LIFE and bring good out of it.

·         Paul said that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning

Genesis 50:20 – You meant if for Evil, God used it for Good
²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me (Joseph), but GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 – Whipped, stoned, hunger, cold
²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 12:9 – In our weakness, His power is made perfect
⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)

Isaiah 53:3 – Jesus; despised, rejected, suffered with pain
³ He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

(NIV2011)

Romans 8:18 – Our sufferings cannot compare to God’s Glory
¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

(ESV)

Psalm 30:5 - Weeping for a night, But joy comes in the morning
⁵ For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

(NKJV)

Victim or Player

·         Are you the victim of someone else’s choices or are you a player in part of God’s grand design which is beyond your understanding.

·         In spite of the sufferings, afflictions and reproach; continue and ENDURE with compassion toward others with confidence of your great reward. – God will make it all up to you for eternity.

Hebrews 10:32-36 – Endure suffering – Great reward.
³² But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you ENDURED a hard struggle with sufferings,
³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
³⁴ For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

(ESV)

Turn Bitter or Turn to God

·         We must decide whether to turn inward with chronic rage, never-ending despair, become hardened, sullen, angry and bitter toward our circumstance or turn to God for courage and the peace to endure, becoming gentle, loving, tender, and compassionate, reaching out to bless others.

·         All suffering has the potential and opportunity for Good, but it is up to us to choose. – Run away from God or run to Him. – Jesus has told us these things in advance so that in Him we might have PEACE. – He has overcome the world.

·         Now that this has happened to you, the question becomes, what are you going to do about it? – Do you focus on the past, on the pain, on the sorrow and the blame, or do you focus on the future; living FOR something instead of AGAINST something.

·         Pain is inevitable, but MISERY is OPTIONAL. – Do we retaliate or forgive – Do we sink in selfishness and self-pity or do we rise to lift others up.

·         TRUST IN THE LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.
BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD and wait patiently for Him.

·         Answers, Explanations and Closure seems good, but Ending Suffering is even better. - Stop looking for answers and start formulating a response. – Turn your righteous anger into a force for doing good for someone else.

John 16:33 - That in me you may have peace.  
³³ I have said these things to you, that IN ME you may have PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

(ESV)

1 John 5:13 – You may KNOW that you have eternal life
¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life. (NIV2011)

Psalm 37:1-11 – Be still – Trust – Delight – Commit your ways
¹ Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
³ TRUST IN THE LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
⁵ COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
⁷ BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
⁹ For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
¹⁰ In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. (ESV)

 Way of Escape

·         This scripture is quoted over and over “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also PROVIDE A WAY OF ESCAPE”.

·         But there is more… He says; “that you may be ABLE TO ENDURE IT”. – You don’t escape out of your tribulation, you are given a way to ENDURE IT. – Can you say Hallelujah -

1 Corinthians 10:13 – God provides a way to be able to endure it
¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be ABLE TO ENDURE IT. (ESV)

Turn bitter or turn to God

Pain is inevitable, but MISERY is OPTIONAL

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha - Goodspeed

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible – NIV

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney

GIFT OF SINGLENESS - NYOBS 61.02

GIFT OF SINGLENESS
Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

Matthew 19:11 (NIV2011)

First Word

·         I asked a young lady out on a date to go to Church on Wednesday night; when we arrived at Church, she said, “you really did mean CHURCH didn’t you” – She asked to sit in the balcony because she was not dressed appropriately.  - I thought, where else do you go on Wednesday Night, but Prayer Meeting.

·         As a young Christian adult I was a SINGLE INTROVERTED NERD.  My life was full of train table construction, building two way radios, speaker enclosures, amplifiers and tuners.  I would come up for air on Friday night at 5 pm and think about getting a date, which by then was impossible. – Tyrous, my forward thinking best friend would get me blind dates so we could double date and sometimes triple date.  – I was a lot of FUN Once I Got Out.

·         I sure liked the ladies, but I didn’t pursue relationships in any serious way. - I think I was born an Introvert because I was so FULFILLED building and CREATING things that dating had just not become a priority in my life. – I still love to build and create things, and if not for my friend I would probably still be single. – I did marry the girl that I met on a blind date; I think she was impressed with my awesome Sub-Woofer. – Just Saying. –  

World View

·         Do you View Singleness as Freedom, Liberty and a Blessing or do you see it as a curse; a burden, cruel and unusual punishment; a cross to bear. – Today Christians shack-up together and do not marry. – Some Christians are unequally yoked, marring a non-Christian and paying the price for that relationship. – We do these things because of our “Bibleless” World View.

·          This Word Study addresses the Christian from the SPIRITUAL point of view, as well as addresses the PHYSICAL emotions that go along with it in this real world. - I am not speaking with thunder and lightning from a mountain top, but tiptoeing through a tricky mine field hoping to not blow up anything that leaves a moral maze that just side steps the subject with a few noncommittal spiritual comments – NYOBS 27.25 – SEX RULES

·         Views on Singleness; 1) Some are FRUSTRATED; focusing only on getting married.  2) Some are ZEALOUS because of their liberty. 3) Some are MINDLESS, because; IT IS WHAT IT IS.

·         I will like to shift your thoughts away from WHY you are single, to the PURPOSE of you being single. -  NYOBS 08.18 - SEX ADULTERY AND FORNICATION

Matthew 19:11 - Marriage is not for everybody
¹¹ But Jesus said, "Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn't for everyone.(MSG)

Ex 22:16 – If you have SEX, then you should get MARRIED

16 "If a man seduces a virgin (single woman) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, (has Sex) he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his WIFE. NIV

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Don’t marry an unbeliever        
¹⁴ Be NOT unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion hath light with darkness? (ASV)

Gift of Marriage

·         Marriage is not for everyone any more than celibacy or Singleness is. -  Marriage is for this life only; when we are resurrected to a newness of life there will be NO marriage in heaven. So for those of you who feel IMPRISONED by your marriage, you will receive a “Get out of Jail Free” card at the resurrection.

·         Hosea the Prophet was told by God to GET MARRIED and not only that, to marry a WHORE, and then he told Jerimiah the Prophet that he must STAY SINGLE. - God calls people in different ways, sometime you know it for sure, and sometimes you don’t.

·         Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband, in fact it is your “right” should you desire it.

·         The Gift of Marriage for the most part is self-focused, individualistic and materialistic.  It focuses on security, companionship, sex, children and self-fulfillment. - The trials and tribulations of marriage is usually preferred over a tortured sex deprived life as a single, but either Gift can still be used for the COMMON GOOD.

·         Some people can serve God best as a team or a couple, therefore marriage is the IDEAL place for them in life.  – Singleness is by no means Second Class. - Through prayer you are able to determine what is the acceptable and perfect will of God in your life.  – If you lack wisdom in this area, ask God and it will be given to you generously.

Matthew 22:30 – Marriage only on earth – not in Heaven
³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

(ESV)

Hosea 1:2-3 – Hosea, go TAKE A WHORE for a wife
² When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee A WIFE of WHOREDOM and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.
³ So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bare him a son.

(ASV)

Jeremiah 16:1-2 – Jeremiah, you shall STAY SINGLE
¹ The word of the LORD came to me:
² You shall NOT TAKE A WIFE, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.

(ESV)

Romans 12:2 - Discern the acceptable and perfect will of God

² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 – Gifts are for the Common Good
⁴  Now there are VARIETIES OF GIFTS, but the same Spirit;
⁵  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
⁶  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for THE COMMON GOOD.

(ESV)

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 7:2 – Each man should have his own wife
² But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 9:5 – It is my right to have a believing wife
⁵ Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

(ESV)

Genesis 2:18 It is GOOD to marry
¹⁸ Then the LORD God said, “It is not GOOD that the man should be alone; I will MAKE HIM A HELPER fit for him.” (ESV)

“Gift” of Singleness

·         Bachelor till the Rapture - It is doubtful that today God calls anyone to singleness against their will. - The Gift of Singleness can be just for a season, but sometimes it’s a lifetime calling – This calling is not something everyone can share. – Many singles DO NOT possess the spiritual GIFT of singleness, but nevertheless remain un-married, it’s part of their life and for the most part, beyond their control.

·         The GIFT of Singleness does not deny or suppress your sexuality, but directs you into service of the body of Christ that honors God with sexual purity; it may be temporary or lifelong.

·         Young single people need Single Spiritual Leaders who are flexible, mobile, and available in being that good friend who provides them with undivided attention.

·         I want to address the passage of scripture that discusses THE GIFT OF SINGLENESS. – I think it is important to know WHY the topic was brought up in the first place.

·         The Greek Word for GIFT is “charisma” coming from the root word “charis” which means GRACE.  – Singleness is a special Grace Gift from God for kingdom service.

·         When Paul speaks of the Gift of ONE kind and ONE of another, he is saying that ONE is the gift of SINGLENESS and another ONE is the gift of being MARRIED. – Both are affirmed and both are called gifts. - So Paul is not putting singleness as a gift better than marriage, but as a status in life.

1 Corinthians 7:1-7 – The Gift of Singleness
¹ Now concerning the matters about which YOU wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
² But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
⁶ Now as a concession, NOT A COMMAND, I say this.
⁷ I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own GIFT from God, one of ONE kind (single) and ONE of another (married). (ESV)

Romans 3:23-24 – Grace is God’s Gift
²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
²⁴ and are justified by his GRACE as a GIFT, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Singleness

·         Singleness can be because of homosexual orientation, birth or physical defects, obligations to take care of elderly parents, or perhaps the result of a horrible accident, or the death of a spouse or separation because of divorce. -  Someone may have NEVER married because they have NOT actually met someone that they wanted to marry.

·         Some have been emotionally damaged in previous relationships and psychologically damaged by others leaving them in a position where they fear close relationships and are unable to sustain them.

·         When you take scripture at its core value of instructing Christians “to not be unequally yoked”, you reduce the number of qualified applicants to less than half. – Those that are desirable are not available and those that are available are just not desirable.

·         Marriage and Singleness run parallel in that they both have their benefits and joys, sorrows and troubles; they are just different. -  However, singleness from the Spiritual point of view can be a higher calling in the propagation of the Gospel. – If Singleness is your calling, it can be a platform of service that secures your undivided devotion to the Lord.

·         Even though it was the custom for Jewish men to marry, Jesus was single as was Paul and John the Baptist, all of which achieved greatness in establishing the Church.

·         John the Baptist chose the seclusion of the wilderness as the Essenes did, somewhat like the monks and nuns do today with the seekers coming to them.  Paul chose the highways of life and went to where the people were. – Both were single, both called; different roads with different travelers. -  We need them both. – We need the man on the corner that is carrying a sign that says repent or burn and we need the man in the pulpit teaching verse by verse everything that God has commanded; different callings, same Lord.

·         Singleness can be a privilege; if you remember the SINGLE peasant girl named Mary was chosen thousands of years earlier to be the mother of our Messiah, Jesus the Christ.

·         Singleness can be a blessing, a special Gift from the Devine Giver who knows the end from the beginning.  - Not a Gift as was poured out on the Day of Pentecost by the Holy Spirit, but a gift that was designed just for you which you are happy with and desire. – If you are not happy being single and do not desire this, it’s certainly not a gift from God and there is nothing wrong with exchanging the gift. – It’s in the Book -

·         Have you heard of Missionary Dating? That’s when you date a non-believer in order to lead them to Christ – It’s called “Flirting that leads to Converting”. – Some CULTS even encourage sex, with the belief that the end justifies the means. - I encourage you to avoid dating non-believers; you can be pulled down much easier than you can pull someone else up.

·         Scripture say to not stir up love until the appropriate time. – Wait for the right timing.

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Don’t marry an unbeliever        
¹⁴ Be NOT unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion hath light with darkness? (ASV)

1 Corinthians 7:35 – Singleness provides undivided devotion to God
³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. (ESV)

Isaiah 7:14 – Prophecy; Single woman bear a son called Immanuel
¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin (single person) shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God is with us). (ESV)

Song of Songs 8:4 – Don’t stir up love until appropriate time
⁴ Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you:   do not STIR UP or awaken LOVE until the appropriate time. (HCSB)

Anonymous Quiet Suffering

·         Married people get to go home after church with their spouse and have a nice meal, while someone who is single goes home to feed their goldfish or if they are fortunate that have a cat that’s asleep somewhere that they can call. – Birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are low times with emotions of a second rate existence. – They wonder why God is taking so long to HOOK THEM UP with someone.

·         They have Feelings and emotions that everyone that they know is either married or in a relationship and they are not able to love someone or receive love as deeply as others do.

·         The thoughts flood in about not having a partner and the fear of never finding one; it’s a sense of isolation with no hope, rarely noticed by anybody.

·         Sometimes you just “feel alone”; it’s “just you” with a glaring reminder that you lack something and you wrestle with the nagging pain of heartache, loneliness, discontentment and depression which you have just learned to “live with”.

·         Sometimes Fellow Christians deem Singleness as something that is God’s second best and probably that you are in a deficient life, unfulfilled and incomplete, and they offer you confusing advice that is emotionally hard to process.  

·          They are continually checking on your ‘STATUS” and usually try to ‘FIX YOU UP” with someone, which just DRIVES YOU CRAZY and you just smile all the time wishing GAS PAINS on them if they don’t change the subject. - NYOBS 50.24 – RELATIONSHIP FELLOWSHIP

The Central Issue

·         Getting to the Point of Paul’s letter to the Church.

·         There was some extenuating issues and circumstances in the Church that Paul was addressing in his letter that all of them knew about, but we can only guess. – (If we didn’t know better, we would think Paul has just come through a nasty breakup with his girlfriend.)

·         To their question he is pointing out that being married or single does not define the central issue of your life; the BIG ISSUE is how you are able to serve the Lord.

·         Remember Paul is Single and considers his status as a Gift from God and says marriage is a good thing, but as for serving the Lord, singleness is even better. – From his point of view, earthly relationships and affections become insignificant in the presence and light of Jesus Christ in eternity.

1 Corinthians 7:25-28 – Single or Married - Stay as you are
²⁵ Now concerning the betrothed (virgins/single), I have NO COMMAND FROM THE LORD, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
²⁶ I think that in view of THE PRESENT DISTRESS it is good for a person to remain as he is.
²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
²⁸ But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed (virgin/single) woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have WORLDLY TROUBLES, and I would spare you that. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 7:38 – Marriage is good, Singleness is even better
³⁸ So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. (ESV)

The End is near

·         Paul believed that the “Time was Short”, that the return of the Messiah was imminent  and he felt an urgency in spreading the Gospel to as many people as possible before that happened.  – This is the sole point of his letter on the Gift of Singleness.

·         Paul is expressing that a man or woman BEING SINGLE has the ability to concentrate on things of God and how to please Him and how to invest in people, dream dreams, and accomplish great goals for the kingdom.

·         Being Married burdens the mind with obligations to the spouse, family and worldly responsibilities which divides a person’s time and efforts concerning the impending Kingdom of God; that if you were single, it was a GIFT FROM GOD. – You were FREE to serve.

·         Obviously today, while we know that our TIME IS SHORT, we do not live in any urgency for the Kingdom of God. – The zeal to devote, without distraction, your whole life to the Kingdom of God is sadly left wanting. – My contribution to the Kingdom of God is my Word Studies and my Giving that makes it possible for others to go.

·         How can people call on Jesus for salvation unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe if they have never heard? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how can they go unless they are sent?

·         If you want to get in on what God is doing, you should at least ask Him what He would have you to do. – That’s why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring the Good News!”

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – Time is short – World shortly pass away
²⁹ This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed TIME HAS GROWN VERY SHORT. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,
³¹ and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of THIS WORLD IS PASSING AWAY. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 – Being Single is better for the ministry
³² I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
³³ But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
³⁴ and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your UNDIVIDED DEVOTION to the Lord.

(ESV)

Romans 10:14-15 – How can they go unless someone sends them
¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (NLT)

Hooking Up

·         My cute wife told me that as a teenager, she and her girlfriends would pile into a car and drive around on a Sunday Night to see which Church the boy’s cars were parked at, the next Sunday each knew which Church they wanted to attend.

·         The Concept might not be a bad idea, find out which churches have a “Singles Program” and visit around.  It’s far better than searching for “The Right One” IN A BAR.

·         Do not forsake going to Church and fellowshipping with other Believers as some have been accustomed to doing. – It’s a privilege that many do not have because of work on Sunday. If you are Single and want to meet a fellow Christian, where better than in the House of God.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – Don’t forsake assembling together in Church
²⁴ let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
²⁵  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see THE DAY APPROACHING.

(NKJV)

Romans 15:5-7 – Welcome others – Live in Harmony – Glorify God
⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (ESV)

Last Thoughts

·         Marriage is not THE GIFT, and Singleness is not THE PUNISHMENT, they are both gifts.

·         God gives gifts that you enjoy and take pleasure in, something that you are good at and others notice the ease of which you do it. – For some people it is actually better for them not to marry, singleness is a Good Gift.

·         When you think of the “Gift” of Singleness it is in the Spiritual context of how you can serve God and if you are excited with singleness, then singleness IS your calling for now, so embrace the liberty. – Single people are serving in various capacities in all parts of the world where a traditional family just would not work.

·         Singleness can be for a lifetime or it can be just for a season, just as marriage can be unexpectedly interrupted, and you are single again. – Jesus said, Not Everyone is able to receive being single, but only those to whom it is given. – Singleness is not primarily a LACK of relationships, but an OPPORTUNITY for relationships through tangible acts of hospitality, service, and love.

·         Jesus was Single and was tempted in every way that is common to man and knows exactly the emotions and feelings that surges through your mind and body, so you can go to Him in prayer about every emotion and He will provide a way so that you are ABLE TO ENDURE IT.

·         Married or Single is a “status” and both are validated by God.  - IF you desire someone to share your life with, then the GIFT of being single was not given to you.  - Our Father in heaven knows how to give GOOD GIFTS to those who ask Him.

·         Do you desire to meet a Christian Single; start in your own Church, you might have to visit other churches that have a singles program, but it’s far better than looking in a BAR.

·         In your Singleness, God is preparing you for whatever comes next; all things work together for Good for those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

Matthew 19:11-12 - Not everyone can receive being single
¹¹ But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
¹² For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

(ESV)

Romans 8:28 - All things work together for good
²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:18 – Jesus SUFFERED when tempted – Able to help
¹⁸ For because he himself has SUFFERED when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 10:13 – A way provided to be ABLE TO ENDURE IT

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may BE ABLE TO ENDURE IT.

(ESV)

Luke 4:13 – Christ tempted IN EVERY TEMPTATION
¹³ And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

(ESV)

Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus tempted IN EVERY RESPECT as we are
¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who IN EVERY RESPECT has been TEMPTED AS WE ARE, yet without sin.

(ESV)

Matthew 7:11 – God gives Good Gifts
¹¹  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven GIVE GOOD GIFTS to those who ask him!

(NIV2011)

James 1:17 – Good and Perfect Gifts come down from God
¹⁷  Every GOOD GIFT and every PERFECT GIFT is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

(ASV)

James 4:2 - You do not have, because you do not ask
² ... You do not have, because YOU DO NOT ASK.

(ESV)

James 4:3 – You do not receive, because you ask wrongly
³ You ask and do not receive, because YOU ASK WRONGLY, to spend it on your PASSIONS.

(ESV)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha - Goodspeed

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible – NIV

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney