Part of the highlights of our annual singles and married summit in church is a special couples’ dinner. That year, as the program was about coming up, my five-year-old daughter was super excited, “Daddy, tomorrow’s our couples’ dinner!” I had to ask, “Our couples’ dinner? Are you part of the couples?” This reminded me about how most singles relate with marriage.
Friend, stop envying marriage, prepare for it. It is better to be single, hoping to be married than to be married, praying to be single (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Marriage needs to be approached with some soberness, not just excitement (Proverbs 4:7).
Some singles need to be told that just as they envy married people, some married people also envy them, even though they may not tell them (1 Corinthians 7:25-29). Am I saying this to discourage you from getting married? Not at all.
Marriage is sweet, enjoyable, and a blessing. But it also comes with its burdens and responsibilities. It is better to face marriage with a mindset of responsibility than with just a mindset of excitement (Ecclesiastes 10:15). Wedding is a day, but marriage is a lifetime.
Marriage is work. Making marriage work is work. You need people who think straight and logically, as much as you need those who are excited (Proverbs 31:1-9). Unfortunately, most single people run away from people like that. They see them as being too serious.
You cannot be too serious about marriage. Seriousness does not mean you are tight-faced. It simply means approaching life with the right information, preparation, and determination (1 Timothy 4:15). It is better to prepare for marriage than to repair your marriage.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria