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As a single male in my late-thirties I more than most people realize the need for what Justin Taylor in a blog post earlier this month referred to as a “theology of singleness” [1]. Without going too deep into the subject, he used messages from Tim Keller and John Piper to share a very powerful truth…it’s okay to be single all your life.

Kevin Deyoung in his excellent book “What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality” describes that truth in an incredibly beautiful way.

”A spouse and a minivan full of kids on the way to Disney World is a sweet gift and a terrible God. If everything in Christian community revolves around being married with children, we should not be surprised when singleness sounds like a death sentence.” [2]

The point these men are trying to make is single people can still be used by God. And if you will allow me to go even farther, singleness is a BLESSING FROM GOD!

Honestly given a choice I would rather not be thirty-nine and single. I told a group of campers last year my choice would a wife and station wagon full of kids, but that isn’t God’s choice for me [3]. The truth is the Lord gives Grace or strength in these situations so most days being single doesn’t bother me at all. However there are moments when it’s hard.

This comes from living in a world where being single is looked upon as “a death sentence” because so many people find their identity in the approval or love of others instead of Christ. In those moments of loneliness the thought “man there’s a lot of things God can do in my life if I was married” will usually pop into my head.

Now I’m not saying that God doesn’t do awesome things with married couples…but there are some very awesome things He can do with singles that (guess what) it’s almost impossible for families to do!

Yesterday I started communicating with mission fields about serving in short-term placement ministries for six-months to a year while my visa to Australia is completed. In my situation (a single missionary) that process includes three steps.

1. Step one: Get confirmation from the missionary family and buy a ticket.
2. Step two: Get short-term visa
3. Step three: Pack bags and leave
4. The whole process can take as little as two weeks

Now imagine how long it would take a family to do that?

Yes it’s true that one person from the family can go on a trip alone, but who wants to leave their wife and children for six months to a year?

In this way singleness is viewed as a gift because it allows me to do ridiculous things for the Gospel like throw my clothes in a bag one day, and be in another Country living for six months the next.

Will there be moments of loneliness?

I can guarantee those moments will come (I’ve felt them), but don’t worry, they are greatly outnumbered by the awesome ones.