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Everyone has experienced singleness at some point. You might be in that season now, or you may know someone who is. In either case, singleness is often accompanied by sadness or shame that feels like it can only be relieved by being in a relationship or married. But something that believers often discredit is that in eternity, we’ll all be single, regardless of the relationship status we had on earth! Not because relationships don’t matter in heaven, but because heaven is where perfect unity is found in Jesus.
Relationship status, and marriage in particular, tends to get emphasized a lot, both in modern culture and in the church. It’s often seen as the finish line, or the fix to whatever feels lacking. And when someone is single, the default response is usually to try and solve it: "You’ve got to meet my friend!,”as if being single is a problem to fix.
But Scripture paints a much broader and more beautiful picture. In 1 Corinthians 7:38, the apostle Paul writes, “So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.” Not broken. Not behind. Better.
If you’re single right now, it doesn’t mean God has overlooked you. It doesn’t mean you’re incomplete. It means you’re in a season that God can use, and is using, for your good and His glory.
Here’s another truth: marriage doesn’t solve all of life’s problems. In fact, Paul follows up with this in verse 28: “But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.” Marriage is beautiful, but it’s also challenging. It’s not heaven on earth, and it was never meant to be.
God doesn’t rank one relationship status above another, but instead, honors both. As The Church, whether married or single, we can love and support other singles by treating singleness as the sacred and significant status that God intended, rather than second-best.
In 1 Corinthians 7:32–35, Paul gives a practical and freeing perspective on singleness:
“An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord... But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided.”
The same goes for women. Paul isn’t saying marriage is bad, he’s saying singleness brings unique freedom. It allows for a kind of focus and availability that can be a real gift.
Life is full no matter what season you’re in. Whether single or married, we all juggle roles and responsibilities. But singleness comes with a kind of flexibility that’s worth recognizing. You don’t have to coordinate schedules with a spouse or navigate family obligations in the same way. That margin can be used to go deeper with God, invest in friendships, serve more freely, and follow wherever He leads.
This doesn’t mean married people can’t serve or live with purpose. It just means single people can often do so with fewer distractions. And that’s not a flaw, it’s a blessing.
Again, In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that both marriage and singleness can honor God. He says, “He who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.” The point isn’t to elevate one status over another, it’s to encourage wholehearted devotion to Jesus, whatever season you’re in.
No matter the stage of life you are in right now, your season has purpose. Are you in school? Be a great student for God’s glory. Are you a son or daughter? Honor your parents. Are you married? Be a faithful spouse, not acting like you’re still single. And if you’re single, don’t live like you’re married to someone you’re not.
As Pastor Ricky shared in a recent conversation with Pastor Chad, for a long time he was remixing the gospel, believing that real life was “Jesus plus something.” But the truth is, the gospel doesn’t need an add-on. It’s Jesus + nothing = everything.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “If I just had…” fill in the blank: a relationship, a better job, more money, a different body, a different season, then life would feel full. But anything we try to add to Jesus is a false savior. He is the only one who satisfies.
Let’s stop asking Jesus to share the throne of our hearts because He is enough for you, for me, and for every season of life.
We as a church exist to help you meet, know and follow Jesus. No matter where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you, God loves you and you are welcome at Sun Valley.