About two years ago I listened to a sermon that changed the way I view my relationship status as a 26-year-old single woman. John Piper has such a wonderful way with explaining the Truth of the Bible and I would like to share a message of his here. Every time I hear or read this message, I'm encouraged and motivated to let God use every day of my life. This has spoken clearly to me, as I have a great desire to have a family someday and continually struggle to submit that desire before the Lord. You can listen, watch or read the sermon in its entirety here: Single in Christ: A Name Better Than Sons and Daughters.
I am interested to hear any feedback anyone may have, as Piper approaches this issue in a unique way.
To whet your appetite, my favorite line in this sermon is at the end, where Piper exhorts: "And with this promise there comes a unique calling and a unique responsibility. It is not a calling to extend irresponsible adolesence into your thirties. It is a calling to do what only single men and women in Christ can do in this world, namely, to display by the Christ-exalting devotion of your singleness to the truths about Christ and His Kingdom that shine more clearly through singleness than through marriage."
3 comments:
sarah, just read your comment in Shaun Groves' blog about Catalyst. You said you're a law student and social worker! Awesome! What are you doing, I'm interested to hear. I want to be more socially active myself.
Please email me: jesse.phillips@catalystspace.com
great great blog. This is an issue many people don't talk about. So often church culture indirectly promotes that mid 20's and 30's folks need to be married. On the other end so often it is the pursuit of someone in their 20's and 30's to be married. As if it were an idol.
You have chosen to pursuit God. Or as Charles Stanley says..."Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him." Great link to John Piper, he is an amazing teacher.
Sarah, I am in agreement with the message of Brother Piper. Many years ago I had to come to peace with knowing that I would only have two children. This seems minor in comparison to the idea of coming to peace with singleness and/or the possibility of not having any children, but I had always wanted a lot of children and I was not able to have them. While the boys were in high school I realized that if we would have had a lot of kids, I probably would not have been able to "mother" so many other kids who needed someone to love them and nurture them. I also looked back and realized how many children I had invested in that I would not have had energy or time to do if I would have had a lot of children myself. I continue to "adopt" kids wherever I go, and know that it is a gift God has given me. Now I can say I am thankful for my two boys but I am also thankful that God only let me have two and that He has chosen to use me to love those children who have no one to really love them.
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