How To Be Single
In a society enamored with weddings, but appalled by the reality of marriage, it is easy to become bewildered by the hypocrisy and disdain that come with married life. In this post, I fully intend on listing five true benefits of singality – I made that word up – but I must first preamble my post. Relationships, and marriage, are two of the biggest blessings that God can bestow onto us. The bible has countless verses stating as much – like “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” Society as a greater whole often overlooks two vital realities – the beauty of the work and maturation required to have a long lasting marriage, and the beauty of singality. I like that word.Singleness has its’ benefits. Seriously. I’m not advocating being single forever in the same manner as the world does. We all know that when we put our hope in money, possessions, or sex, we will wake up some day - disillusioned, empty, and confused - Wondering why there is a God-sized emptiness within us. No, I am not advocating that – I am advocating a change on perspective, a paradigm shift, towards a season of singality.
- Hobbies – hobbies come in various shapes and sizes, and most of them are given to us by God Himself. A few of my hobbies include shooting, motorcycle riding, camping, hunting, fishing, etc. Hobbies add flavor to our lives. One day, most of us will have children, and those children will need our guidance along the path of figuring out who they are. There is something special that happens when, in my case, a father passes down a skill (hobby) to his child. A bond forms, the child becomes more confident and self-assured, and the child is allowed to explore what their likes or dislikes are.
- Time with God – Singality offers an unparalleled opportunity to get closer to God. My day this morning started with me waking up at 7, cooking breakfast, and spending time in devotion with God. At 9, I mosey on in to class – refreshed from an encounter with God. One day, that will change – ask any married person with kids what their morning is like, it is usually chaos, and without as much time for devotions.
- Financial Freedom – Relationships, and families, cost money. That money is well spent – yet it is extra money spent. A season of singleness offers an unparalleled opportunity for us to expand our financial horizons. We can pay off debts, save money, and invest money – with complete freedom. Mind my audience, these are all God honoring principles.
- Physical Fitness – The bible states that we are to treat our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, meaning we should take care of them. Singality is a great time to focus on physical fitness and health – building healthy habits that we will someday take in to our marriage.
- Career Progression – While our career should never be our primary focus, it should be important. A career is another means of honoring God through our work. Singleness offers the flexibility sometimes needed to progress in a career. I’m in engineering school – a rigorous program. There are many nights a week that I need to be at my university until 10 PM or later for studying or homework. As a single adult, this is not a problem. If I were married and/or I had kids, this would cause huge problems.
In conclusion, to those of us in a season of singleness, it isn’t all that bad. Next time we go to bed without setting an alarm, we should remember – it won’t always be this way. We would do well to recognize, and utilize, the advantages of being single – to move forward in life spiritually, emotionally, physically, and fiscally.