Have you ever heard the saying ‘singleness is a gift’? I mean, cool gift lol but is there a receipt for it? What’s the return policy on this gift? Because honestly, I don’t think most believers want it. But when I started thinking about gifts I’ve gotten but haven’t used, I wondered if this is why some of us don't see it as a gift. I know DVD players are kind of outdated in the technology driven society we live in, but last Christmas I asked for one. Ya know, there are just some things that aren’t on Netflix or Hulu lol. Like, someone bought me the ‘Hey Arnold Movie’ DVD and I seriously haven’t seen it since I was like 10. So I wanted a DVD player for those classic movies that you just can’t really get a digital copy of. It was actually a super cool gift. But guess what, it’s almost Christmas time again a whole year later and I haven’t even hooked up that DVD player yet. I walk past it on my TV stand every day. And while I was organizing my room the other day, I noticed it. I actually felt kind of bad because it’s been sitting literally collecting dust. All it’s waiting on is for me to plug a few wires into my TV. Is this why we don’t see singleness as a gift? Because we haven’t actually taken the time to use it? I think, just like my DVD player, we have to be intentional about how we use our singleness.
Here are three ways we can use our singleness;
1. We can use our singleness to get closer to God. We can use our singleness to motivate a stronger, more intimate relationship with Him. It was frustration with my singleness that led me to start every single day with a devotional. That may not sound too deep and spiritual. But I used to wake up, roll over and check my phone. I’d go to text messages first, then each social media app. I’d lay there for like 10 minutes before doing anything else. But then it would be almost midday before I realized I hadn’t talked to God once. I’ve been doing this every single day, for 3 or so months. I can’t even put into words what it has done to me. Not to be dramatic but it changed every single aspect of my life. Your relationship with God matters way more than anything else in this life, and this time of singleness is an optimal time for us to build a strong foundation for that relationship with Him.
2. We can use our singleness as motivation to do something new or something we’ve always wanted to do. In 1 Corinthians 7:32–34, Paul explains how in singleness you have freedom from the anxieties and stresses of marriage. When you get married, your financial, emotional, and social responsibilities increase significantly. This isn’t a bad thing, but the responsibility that you already have will certainly get more serious and all new responsibilities will come. What is something that you can do now, as a single person that may be a little more difficult as a married person? I know a lot of people that decided to write a book, lose weight/get fit, open/start their dream business, redesign their home/room, the lists goes on. Everyone has a dream, use your gift of singleness to start yours.
3. You can use your singleness to go wherever you want. There are really no limitations in our lives, just because we aren’t married. The world tells us this, but this actually isn’t true. You can do it. Single or married, you can do it. (Unless we’re talking about sex haha). You can also go wherever you want physically, too. You can travel and make plans without having to clear it with someone else first. You don’t have to sync your work schedules or PTO days. God created this entire world, I don’t believe he created it just for us to stay in one place forever. He created it, in all of its beauty for us to enjoy it. We should see as much of his creation as possible.
I’m a strong believer in marriage. I love love, and I love that God created it for us. But, while we wait for marriage we don’t have to be bored, frustrated or hopeless. God has given singleness to us as a gift, it’s time for us to dust it off of the shelf, and actually use it.
- Gabbing With Gabbi