| Poster | Thread | Eli_Barnabas
Member
Joined: 2005/2/16
Posts: 621
Cache Valley, Utah
| | Re: | | I'm 19 and single... but I find I'm much more eager to seek God than to seek a future mate. I feel I could take whatever the Lord may require, whether marriage or not. I would love to serve God completely without a wife but I would also love to serve Him with one!
The way I see it, and God has shown me a cool thing in the Word, is this (for those who are 'seeking' a wife):
Remember the time Jesus told Peter to cast a line into the water and catch a fish, and the fish would have a coin in it? Well, if Jesus hadn't told him to do that, Peter could fish all the rest of his days and never catch the fish with the coin. Through obedience and trust in Jesus, Peter cast one line and snagged the winner. I believe it is the same in looking for a wife. Don't seek one out in your own strength, wisdom and skill, but seek first the kingdom... be obedient to God and trust that when He says "Go fish", then the very first one you snag will be the one with the coin in it!
Neat, huh?
In Christ,
-Eli
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Eli Brayley
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|  2005/4/11 13:54 | Profile |
| | Re: Who is a bachelor? | | I am a 37 year old pup, just a litte wet behind the ears.
I have never married because I had no desires for the opposite sex, those who have read my testimony know why. I have never touched a female or know what it is to kiss one, accept my dear Mother.
Sometimes I like the idea of having a wife, one who has control of her emotions, not up and down and flighty.
Other times I would like to be completely devoted to God with no interruptions.
Karl
8-) |
| | 2005/4/11 14:13 | |
| | Re: | | Quote:
Sometimes I like the idea of having a wife, one who has control of her emotions, not up and down and flighty.
Hmm... when you find one like that, let me know! LOL
Seriously tho... if God has a woman for you, or the other guys on here, then she will be someone who will build a relationship that will bring you closer to God. Looking on your own without praying for God's wisdom will surely hook you up with a relationship that will bring you further from God. But God designed marriage for several reasons, but I think the most important reason is to enhance your relationship with Him.
Until I became a father I never understood God's relationship to me as Father. I never completely understood what Father went thru when His Son died on the cross.
Until I was married I never completely understood Christ's love for the church as His bride. Never completely understood how He will feel when His church (bride) is delivered up to Him. I remember seeing my wife coming down the isle.. and son, my heart was racing with excitement (and nervousness)... how much more will Christ's heart race when His bride appears before Him?
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Other times I would like to be completely devoted to God with no interruptions.
Perhaps thats what He's called you to. bro...
Krispy
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| | 2005/4/11 14:20 | | wallrepairer
Member
Joined: 2005/2/7
Posts: 33
| | Re: Who is a bachelor? | | This was an interesting discussion for me to read as a single female. Congratulations to many of you who said that you were seeking God first and trusting him to bring along the right person. I am 35, have never dated and am unsure whether I will ever be married but am happy to leave that decision up to God.
I have observed a desperation in people build as they hit their late 20s and early 30s. I have watched many people run into marriage who would have never married if they were younger or truly 'seeking God.'
I have watched so many women put their lives on hold and simply wait for the man to come along and complete their lives and give them direction. It is so sad that they can't rejoice and embrace the gift of being single. I have loved being single. It has allowed me the opportunity to follow an interesting career working with charities and people in need, I have travelled and lived in a variety of countries doing church planting and evangelism. I currently run my own business and take in foster children who have challenging behaviour.
If people sit and wait for their partner or embark on activities to seek out their partner then they are wasting their talents and the gift of life that has been given them. Time marches on and we have only this one life.
Go for God, and he will sort out everything else. Keep your head and keep your heart before Him. Thank you for helping me see that there are many men with the right priorities out there.
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| | 2005/4/11 15:50 | Profile |
| | Re: Wisdom taken from me | | Krispy wrote:
Quote:
Hmm... when you find one like that, let me know! LOL
Don't make cracks like that Krispy...LWMMS.....I just had my upper Wisdom teeth removed today. All my wisdom is gone.
LWMMS = Laughing With My Mouth Shut
Karl :-P |
| | 2005/4/11 16:24 | |
| | Re: | | Quote:
I just had my upper Wisdom teeth removed today
...I'm having one removed in a couple weeks. I can hardly wait.
Krispy |
| | 2005/4/11 16:49 | |
| | Re: | | Quote:
I have watched so many women put their lives on hold and simply wait for the man to come along and complete their lives and give them direction. It is so sad that they can't rejoice and embrace the gift of being single.
Since I'm 37 and been married almost 16 years, I am probably not the best person to address this... but...
God has given most folks a desire to have a mate. It's the way He made us. BUT like everything else, that desire has to be brought under His control... His will. And I think most dont, and that would explain the desperation you're speaking of, wallrepairer.
Good post.
Krispy |
| | 2005/4/11 16:53 | | sermonindex
Moderator
Joined: 2002/12/11
Posts: 39795
Canada
Online! | | Re: | | Quote:
But really when it came down to it, it was not pleasing to the Lord. I am totally convinced in my mind that to know a girl who is in the Lord that encourages you and leads you closer to God is good but to have a girlfriend with all the physical kissing, hugging, holding hands, etc is pretty wordly and doesnt need to take place unless you are sure that God is leading you to pursue her as a wife.
As I said before in a post I think that dating and having an [b]girlfriend[/b] is pretty much something that is unbiblical and not really a good route for a Christian. I think the best thing to do is to get to know a person as a friend and seek the Lord together and in groups. As the Lord confirms and speaks to your heart then you go and intiate an [b]courtship[/b] which really has its intentions of marriage. Courtship is not an excuse to "fool around" thats not the point of it and probably as I said above hugging, kissing, etc really doesn't even need to be done. The Lord will enable and confirm about marriage and as my hermenutics teacher said there always is not an casting of the lots. If the girl is Christian, you like her, and you are both strong in the Lord and have feeling for each other then that could possibly be your wife. The point is not for personal fulfillment or selfishness but to seek something that is good but compliments our relationship with God.
_________________
SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| | 2005/4/11 17:25 | Profile | philologos
Member
Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK
| | Re: | | Hi Lyndon
We had a little discussion on some aspects of your question quite a while ago. In particular I was interested to try to find the original elements of 'marriage' from the scriptures from the original Gen 2 statement of 'two being one'. You will find it here
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On another note shouldn't there be a difference in how we as christians approach marriage, as apposed to those outside the faith. I can't really give a biblical example but it would be my personal opinion that two 'followers of the way' given up to each other in marriage must have a connection in the spirit.
I think you are right, but the only verse I can think to substantiate it is the phrase 'in the Lord' from The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (1Co 7:39 KJV)Although some servants of God have served Him wonderfully without the 'support' of their wives. John Wesley and William Carey are two that spring to mind, although their histories were very different. To have a godly wife is the surely the greatest 'natural' blessing imaginable, although the rest of you will just have to put up with second best... the most wonderful woman in the world is making my coffee!
_________________
Ron Bailey
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| | 2005/4/12 4:57 | Profile |
| | Re: | | Quote:
As I said before in a post I think that dating and having an girlfriend is pretty much something that is unbiblical and not really a good route for a Christian. I think the best thing to do is to get to know a person as a friend and seek the Lord together and in groups. As the Lord confirms and speaks to your heart then you go and intiate an courtship which really has its intentions of marriage. Courtship is not an excuse to "fool around" thats not the point of it and probably as I said above hugging, kissing, etc really doesn't even need to be done. The Lord will enable and confirm about marriage and as my hermenutics teacher said there always is not an casting of the lots. If the girl is Christian, you like her, and you are both strong in the Lord and have feeling for each other then that could possibly be your wife. The point is not for personal fulfillment or selfishness but to seek something that is good but compliments our relationship with God.
I agree with this 100% ...
Krispy |
| | 2005/4/12 8:24 | |
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