Is it better to marry or not to marry?
If we put this question to the world at large, there’s no telling what the answers would be. Preference of marital status seems to change with each generation.
But what if we pose the question to Biblical Scripture? Even then, it’s more complicated than a simple, straightforward for or against.
So, let’s start at the beginning. God created a man and judged that he needed a woman. Future men, God declared, would leave their parents and attach themselves to their wives.
Round 1 goes to Marrying.
Then we read through the centuries, through the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, the Kingdom era, the Prophets, pause for the silent years and find Jesus saying that divorce never was God’s will, but was given as a sort of concession to men’s ungodly slant, implying that God wants husband and wife to remain husband and wife.
Round 2 also goes to Marrying.
So far, it’s Marrying – 2, and Not Marrying – 0.
Then we come to the epistles of Paul. But even though Paul is one person he doesn’t seem to be singularly clear on the matter.
On one hand, Paul asserts that the unmarried Christian can devote their all to the Lord, while the married are concerned with the affairs of this world, like how they can please their spouse. (1 Corinthians 7:34).
That’s To Marry – 2 and Not to Marry – 1.
On the other hand, in the same letter to the Corinthian church, two chapters later, he makes the point that he should also be allowed a wife, like the other apostles bring along in their travels, almost like he would prefer to be married.
Even though it isn’t a decisive win, we have to chalk that one up to marriage.
The tally now?
To Marry – 3, Not to Marry – 1.
The real question is, how does this apply to you or me?
Well, I’m married, so marriage is God’s will for me, and if you’re married, God wants you to remain in your current state, as well.
If you aren’t married, it can be confusing for you.
Any time you don’t see clarity on an issue in Scripture, God has provided two supporting beams in the Body of Christ to help gain understanding and make decisions: the Holy Spirit who dwells within you, and the wise counsel of your brothers and sisters in Christ. And God has placed a good head on your shoulders, so remember that you have the wisdom and intelligence to make the right decision with the aforementioned supporting beams.
Any time people are factors in our decision-making, like a potential future spouse, it becomes much more complex than an issue without a major human factor. So, if you’re trying to decide whether you should marry a particular person, seek God relentlessly about it. Remember, Jesus said if we seek, we will find, so if you’re really seeking Him and His will, He’ll reveal what you seek. Of course, if your counterpart, the one you may marry, is also seeking God and communication between the two of you is abundant, the wisdom for decision-making grows.
To bring this to a conclusion:
Pray! Pray! Pray!
Communicate! Communicate!
Pray! Pray! Pray!
Communicate! Communicate!
Then, move forward when you have some certainty of whether…
To marry or not to marry.
