MoS: Contentment

Musings on Singleness: Contentment

Contentment is the attitude that should be associated with waiting.

Often we singles (especially the ladies) see the rosy, beautiful, chick-flick version of romance and are longing for it. The world is constantly pushing romance and relationships and that perfect kiss at the end of the chick flick, etc. We all should be familiar with this concept after the Valentines’ Day overkill!While I remain a romantic at heart, I can honestly say that romance is not the answer to all life’s problems. It is not really the desperate, all-consuming need of your heart.

The truth is… your deepest longing is for fellowship with God. Sin has separated us from Him. We need to reconciled to the Father through the finished work of Christ on the cross. And no romance is gonna do that work. The hole in your heart… is not for “The One” or your soulmate or anything of that nature. That’s a lie of the enemy!

Let’s say that you are a Christian, walking in fellowship with Jesus. And you see Godly marriages around us and it inspires a longing for the same. Like I said before, the desire for marriage is God-given! It’s not evil or sinful or any such thing! 1 Corinthians 7 states clearly that if man marries, he is not in sin.

The only danger lies within our hearts. Discontentment can rear its ugly head. And while the Lord may have destined us for marriage in the future, the danger is that we may become too busy longing for that season to be of any use in the kingdom of God now.

“But godliness is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.”
1 Timothy 6:6

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
Philippians 4:11

Throughout Scripture, contentment is spoken of most often in the context of money. And that is certainly something we must be content about. I think the principle can also extend to our attitudes in the situations we are in relationally. Constantly looking forward to another season can be as great a hindrance as constantly looking back.

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62

Fit means usable, useful, or of any value. If we are putting our hands to the plow and then looking away, we will become useless in the kingdom of God! Contentment guards our head, our eyes, our focus and keeps us looking at eternal things. There is great gain in contentment during this season of singleness. Great gain for us spiritually, but more importantly, great gain for the kingdom of God.