A Word For Singles

In Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, John Piper writes a forward to singles. I find his statements helpful and Biblical.

1. Marriage, as we know it in this age, is not the final destiny of any human. Singleness here will prove to be no disadvantage in eternity (Mark. 12:25).
2. Jesus Christ, the most fully human person who ever lived, was not married. Piper tells a great story about a letter he received from a guy who said that not to have sexual relations is to be an incomplete person (p. xix).
3. The Bible celebrates celibacy because it gives extraordinary opportunity for single-minded investment in ministry for Christ (1 Corinthians 7:7; 32-35).
4. The Apostle Paul and a lot of great missionaries after him have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
5. The Apostle Paul calls singleness a gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7).
6. Jesus promises that forsaking family for the sake of the kingdom will be repaid with a new family, the church (Mark 10:29-30).
7. God is sovereign over who gets married and who doesn’t. And He can be trusted to do what is good for those who hope in Him (Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:32).
8. Mature manhood and womanhood are not dependent on being married. A man does not become a man by getting married and a woman does not become a woman by getting married.