Should I or Will I Get Married?

His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” (Matthew 19:10)

Today’s big question: should I or will I get married?

Some wonder whether God wants them to get married. We must first come to realize that it is possible that one may never marry. This might sound depressing, but we must always learn to be content with our circumstances (Philippians 4:10–13). Don’t let the question of marriage consume you by worrying about it continually. For some, this is easier said than done. But we know worrying about such things won’t add anything to our lives (Matthew 6:25–34), and it won’t hurry along the God-ordained process.

Is your desire to be married taking away from your contentment with God? It certainly is not wrong to desire to be married, but the desire can be detrimental to your relationship with God if you are not trusting wholly in Him. 1 Corinthians 7 should prove enlightening:

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. . . . But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (1 Corinthians 7:1–2, 8–9)

Just as it was in the Corinthian culture, the temptation of sexual immorality is all around us today and it has become more and more socially acceptable. However, Christians are not called to live by a subjective social convention but by the unchanging standard set by God.

Though it is good for some men and women to remain single so they may better concentrate on their ministry for the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32–35), there is obviously nothing wrong for believers to marry either. Marriage was instituted by God and part of the world, which He called “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Though marriage has become more difficult since the Curse, it is still a blessing from God for most people (1 Corinthians 7:25–28; Hebrews 13:4). If you desire to be single, you can better concentrate on the things of the Lord and His ministry. If you desire to be married and end up marrying a fellow believer, you also do well for yourself and certainly have not sinned. Just remember to be content with your situation and trust God’s perfect timing and instructions.

Today’s big idea: as long as you are following God’s will, there is nothing wrong with getting married and nothing wrong with staying single.

What to pray: ask God to make it clear whether or not you should marry, and be content whatever the outcome.