Honouring God with your singleness – Part 2

He said to them: “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” Matthew 19:11-12. Jesus highlighted the three types of “eunuchs” here, who would not marry. The first were born physically incapable of having relations with an opposite sex. The second category was “made eunuchs by men”.

In palaces of the ancient Greek worlds, the servants who served in their wives’ quarters were castrated, so they could be trusted with the women. The word “eunuch” originates from the Greek words eune (“bed”) and ekhein (“to keep”), which literally means “bed-keeper”. Jesus mentioned the third category as those who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom’s sake. Such don’t have to castrate themselves, but by pure commitment to dedicate themselves in service to God, thereby receiving the gift of celibacy in their service to God and the cause of humanity.

Jesus didn’t conclude on celibacy as the norm. The Bible teaches that marriage is God’s will from the beginning, that man should not be alone, but needs a suitable helper for the fulfilment of the command given to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth to be accomplished through the union of a man and woman. However, Jesus endorsed singleness and celibacy as a special gift for those “… to whom it has been given” Matthew 19:11. One thing is clear, people who are called to lifelong celibacy will be fully persuaded and if that is you, God will honour you with the grace to respond positively. But if you really want to be married, then God is not calling you to live a life of singleness permanently, so you can desire to get married one day soon, for “He who finds a wife finds a good thing” Proverbs18: 22. Those specifically called to receive the gift of singleness will find total fulfilment in the Kingdom of God and their relationship with Jesus.

One of the fallacies propounded today is that believers who are single people will not be emotionally fulfilled until they are married. This simply is not the case, for there are benefits to marriage that you don’t get in singleness, but equally there are benefits to singleness that you don’t get in marriage. Getting married does not equal emotional fulfilment and completion. If you are not fulfilled in your singleness, then you never will be in your married life. It is only Jesus Who gives complete emotional fulfilment in your status…
To be continued.
Ayo Daniels is a healthy family passionate and writes from Lagos. For your questions, comments and enquiries:
Email: ayodaniels@mrlworld.com
Twitter: ayodaniels.