Who is a bachelor?

Hi I'm interested to know who here is a bachelor? What is your reason for being a bachelor. Is it by choice? Like is it to do with what Paul says about those who are married will face many troubles, and that a married man will be concerned with the affairs of this world - how he can please his wife and his interests are divided. But an unmarried man will be concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord. So therefore you choose to remain unmarried. Or are you married because you burn with passion and cannot control yourself and because you would just like to live with a wife and have children?For the last 3 years Ive been saying I dont want to get married I want to be single. One reason is that I think to myself if I struggle to maintain a relationship with God then how can I maintain a decent relationship with my wife. Also I think it is very difficult to find a women who will be prepared to live a difficult life for Christ. Lastly I look at marriages today and see them in so much trouble and the wife and husband has lost their love for each other. Marriage is high maintenance compared to living by yourself. Living by yourself you can go to any degree for Christ. Were the disciples married after Jesus left? Were the prophets married? I think it would be difficult to be married and go to the lengths the prophets and disciples went to.

Were the disciples married after Jesus left? Were the prophets married? I think it would be difficult to be married and go to the lengths the prophets and disciples went to.Paul's comments seem to indicate that the 'norm' (though not any kind of requirement) was that the early Christian 'leaders' were married.Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? (1Co 9:5 NASB)

I am bachelor. Mainly because I'm a 20 yr old college student. I'm not really looking for a wife or girl friend but when I do get one she will deffinately increase or push my relationship with Christ or she would not be the one for me. I am not married but I would not see how it would hinder your relationship with God if she is seeking just as you are. It would be crazy to think that it would because God ordained marriage. Why would God create something for your pleasure that would draw you away from Him? When a marriage is seeking God it will work out fine. But what you must remember is that there are 3 stages to love and marriage. They are related to your Total Man or the 3 parts God has made you: spirit, soul, and body. Most dont go past the body or soul. Body would be a love or attraction just because of physical appearence. Soul (which is our mind will and emotions)would be a love that might be because you have something in common. For example you both like horses or something, maybe even because you both are christians. But spirit is the true stage of love. Most couples dont get to that stage but when 2 connect in spirt and are married it makes them one seeking God. :-)

Hi PreachBut what you must remember is that there are 3 stages to love and marriage. They are related to your Total Man or the 3 parts God has made you: spirit, soul, and body. Most dont go past the body or soul. Body would be a love or attraction just because of physical appearence. Soul (which is our mind will and emotions)would be a love that might be because you have something in common. For example you both like horses or something, maybe even because you both are christians. But spirit is the true stage of love. Most couples dont get to that stage but when 2 connect in spirt and are married it makes them one seeking God.We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary earlier this month. That's my main quailification for asking the question; 'biblically, why do you think marriage, in which two become one flesh, should also result in union of soul and spirit?'

Maybe I should have clarified myself more. What I was trying to show was that there is a love that is deeper than just physical attraction (which would be what you see ie. body) and "having something in common" (which would be your soul or mind). I didnt mean to infer that it was a union of soul and spirt. I should have placed the word body or flesh after i said it makes them one... I was tring to get accross that there is a love that is deeper that physical looks and emotions and thoughts which can change frequently. Do you agree with this? please share your thoughts, i am sure you have much more insight on a sucessful Godly marriage than i do. What do you belive it means for 2 to become 1? and possibly instead of using the word stages i could have used depths of love. The world knows no deeper than a physical or soulical love whether that is inbetween a marriage or any type of relationship. Im sorry i will try to clarify myself more but i was running late so i was in a hurry.

I am a bachelor, 29 years old, and it is partially by choice and partially out of desire. Well, I should say "lack of desire" maybe. Honestly, I haven't really met anyone that has interested me or they have and has been completely inoppurtune to say the least.Turning 29, however, has given me a greater desire to get married.

I am

RonWe celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary earlier this month. That's my main quailification for asking the question; 'biblically, why do you think marriage, in which two become one flesh, should also result in union of soul and spirit?'This is more of a question than an answer, but what does God see as a marriage? We often read that somebody took someone as his wife but, the bible seems to be somewhat lacking on a ceremony or procedure.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.This is something that is still going through my mind and I haven't formed any conclusions yet, but as a young guy, would appreciate any insight that could be given.Lyndon

i am, i'm now 21, and what Josh said: "it will have to increase my relationship with Christ" otherwise it will keep me from God.and for me i say "The Lord is my Shepherd, i shall not want" i'm not looking for a girlfriend, i want to live for Him, and if He has someone for me, He will show me, He guides me!i once was searching for a girl by myself without God, and God broke it out of my life in a very hard way, but He renewed my mind so much, that i want to live for my first love Jesus Christ, and i don't care if i have to go as a bachelor through life or as a married men, it's up to Him!btw i made a kind of statement to God, to keep my eyes on my first love Jesus Christ, and not going around worrying or searching hopeing i could find someone."it is better to enter The Kingdom of God alone/single, than to be cast in to hell with wife and all" in Him who guides our path!William

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

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.

Hi LyndonWe 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 hereOn 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!