“But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep the virgin, does well. So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.”

Happiness is not what we think. We think it is having Christ and the things of this world, but it is having Christ alone.

First, there’s nothing wrong with marriage, but it is not the best. “So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.” The best is singleness and absolute devotion to Christ, living your life entirely for Him without distraction; it is giving yourself to prayer and fasting and seeking the Lord until He is found.

It is not a hermit’s life on a mountain; it is spreading the gospel abroad - being in the world but not of it! The Apostles were not hermits, and they were most spiritual. Believing women were not nuns sworn to celibacy, which came in as the church was perverted [1 Tim 4:1-3]. No, they lived and worked in the world, reaching their neighbors and helping the church. They were missionaries and soldiers for Christ’s gospel.

Secondly, let this be your life! “She is happier.” Don’t only hear about the great things of old but live them now by the power of God’s Spirit.

Don’t let someone else love God, and you simply say, “Wow.” Realize what He’s done for your sin-loving and hell-deserving soul: He died for you. He laid down His life and chose us for salvation. We did not seek Him, but we found Him, even though we thought we knew Him in our ignorance. Much more, He gives us the Spirit, so we’re not just waiting for heaven! We have everything that we need to serve now.

I pity American’s complaining and influencing the world in our bitterness, as if the gospel HAS NO POWER, and this is the first time the Church has suffered. Go back to the beginning. See the 120 at Pentecost. Only 500 saw the Risen Lord. See the gospel spread through bloodshed, as the martyr’s suffered! Look at John Paton going to the cannibals, after he saw them eat the missionaries just before him. This takes courage and supernatural strength, which God gives plenty of.

Thirdly, look at the single life and consider marriage wisely: you only get one. “A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.” The only reason for divorce is fornication, so make sure that you marry wisely in the Lord, or you will have trouble! Pick a sister whom you desire, and settle down to God’s glory, if you can’t contain yourself. If you can, don’t feel pressured.

Marriage is good, but it is not everything, and Paul gives us the key of happiness, when he says that the widow is better remaining single. “She is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment--and I think I also have the Spirit of God.” Yes, everyone has a gift, but don’t complain to Christ as if you can’t be happy unmarried, as if He can’t give you self-control and pleasure. He can.