Sermon Tone Analysis
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If you have followed my sermons since January, you have probably noticed, maybe sub-consciously, a theme that I have returned to several times.
Our identity.
Who are we?
Are we Americans?
Are we Nebraskans?
Are we products of our parents and grandparents, bearing their last name and passing it on to the next generation.
What is our identity?
We live in a world that has expanded the discussion of identity to sexuality.
We define ourselves based upon our sexual relationships and desires.
Paul looks at the Corinthians, and pushes the question of identity back.
The question is not, who are you, but who are you in Christ, and how will you live in this world based on that identity.
The answer of that question affects everything in life, including sex, divorce, and our romantic relationships, or lack thereof.
Today, we are going to talk about singleness, but in the process, we will be talking about identity, marriage, and a lot in between.
Let’s read the passage.
Let’s pray before we dive in.
The Choice
Some say that we make two big decisions in life.
The first is when we choose to follow Jesus Christ.
The second is when we choose the person we get married too.
However, Biblically, the second major decision is even more basic: whether we get married or not.
Unfortunately, society over the years has waffled between what is right or wrong.
There was a period in the early church, and even some cults recently, where they taught it was a sin to get married.
Jesus is coming soon, so we shouldn’t get entangled in fleshly relationships.
Those churches and cults quickly died out.
The other extreme is happening right now in some churches.
It is almost considered the spiritual option to get married.
If one is single, they are considered a second-class Christian.
Or, even worse, people start whispering about their supposed homosexual tendencies.
Just because someone is not married.
Earlier in 1 Corinthians Paul writes:
In Paul’s eyes, both marriage and singleness are viable options for a Christian.
They are both gifts that God gives.
He is single and he sees the benefit of the single lifestyle.
But God gives gifts of marriage and singleness to be used for God’s glory.
Both come with blessings and both come with hardships.
Marriage
Let’s talk about the choice of marriage.
Most people here have made that choice.
But why?
Most of the time, when we get married we get married for the blessings of marriage.
Few weigh the blessings against the hardships.
Blessings
But there are blessings.
Right?
We talk about some of the blessings several weeks ago, when we sent the kids downstairs.
The physical relationship in marriage is a blessing from God.
We could talk about teamwork.
Having a spouse who is a believer who joins us in a unity of purpose is great.
I think about the college I graduated from.
Pensacola Christian College.
It was definitely far from perfect.
However, it was started by a couple who spent their life together devoted to ministry with kids.
They didn’t have any kids of their own.
So they started Sunday Schools, an elementary School, a high school, and finally a college.
They were united as a team in their purpose together.
During my pre-marital counseling sessions, I actually have the engaged couple prepare a missions statement for their marriage.
We could talk about encouragement.
Warren Wiersbe tells the story of a Scottish preacher who was experiencing a bunch of public criticism for a stand he took Biblically.
Everyday there was a negative report about in the newspapers.
A friend met him one day and asked: “How are you able to carry on in the face of this opposition?”
The man replied: “I am happy at home.”
We continue talking about the blessings, but we won’t.
If you are married and you are not experiencing the blessings of marriage, please let me know.
God created marriage to be a blessing not a curse.
Hardships
Now, while there are blessings to marriage.
There is also hardships.
Can I hear a witness?
But, the hardships run deeper than just relational difficulties.
Listen to what Paul says:
What is Paul saying?
First, he is not saying that anyone who is married should abandon their spouses.
To many men do that nowadays, anyway.
Too many men do not live with their wives in an understanding way.
Paul is saying that those who are married face worse hardship in the world than those who are single.
Jesus told his followers:
For the committed Christian, this world brings trouble.
In Paul’s day, they experienced even more trouble than we are experiencing now.
There are places around the world where committed Christians are experiencing this trouble.
In those places, and perhaps in America when that time comes, each person will have to realize that being married and having kids brings more heartache during persecution.
Because during persecution, we are not just overwhelmed with our own pain, but also with the pain of our spouses and kids that they are experiencing because of our decisions.
Paul, when he was thrown into prison, did not have to worry about how his wife and children would hold up.
Hardship.
Not only is there hardship due to persecution, but there is hardship due to conflicted priorities.
A married person is continually faced with the question: what does it mean to follow God right now?
We are pulled in two separate directions.
So many times, I wish that I could spend more time with someone, or that I could add just a few more changes into the sermon.
I wish I could spend more time in my studies or on a powerpoint.
However, I can’t because I have to go home to my wife and kids.
I’m not saying that I don’t want to go home.
I love my family, but the division is there.
Those who are not in full-time ministry still feel this pull, as they want to volunteer and serve.
They want to help others and make a difference, but they must go back to their families, because their aim should be to please their spouse.
Hardship, due to conflicted priorities.
We could go on, but we won’t.
Singleness
So one choice is marriage.
The other choice is staying single.
And yes, this is a choice.
Too many people take this route grudgingly, or some people take this route because they have to by their position.
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