Singleness for the Glory of God
Pastoral | May 21, 2026 | By: Jimmy Guvvala
Singleness is often spoken about quietly in the church, sometimes awkwardly, and often with assumptions which shape how we think, how we speak, and even how we see ourselves.
It is rarely criticized outright but expressed in less open ways. Compliments carry questions inside them. “He’s such a great guy. How is he still single?” “She’s wonderful. When will she get married?”
No one means harm. But those small assumptions seed a wrong narrative. Marriage begins to feel like arrival. Singleness starts to feel like delay.
Yet Scripture treats singleness as a season full of purpose. The Bible does not whisper about it. It does not apologize for it. It presents it plainly, even boldly, as part of God’s design.
We speak about marriage or singleness—Scripture speaks about belonging. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1)
That is where identity begins. Not with a ring. Not with a relationship status. Not with a timeline. With adoption.
And when Jesus tells us to “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33),He is not speaking only to married people. He is speaking to sons and daughters. That is the foundation. From there, singleness takes on its proper shape.
Singleness as Identity
Your identity is not “single.” Your identity is “beloved.”
Before anyone is married or unmarried, they are known. Before they are chosen by another person, they are chosen by God.
Singleness cannot shrink that identity. Marriage cannot enlarge it.
Jesus Himself lived a fully human life without marriage. That fact alone should steady us. If marriage were necessary for fullness, the Son of God would have lacked something. He did not. He lived in perfect union with the Father. He embodied complete humanity without romantic attachment. There is nothing partial about Him.
If marriage were necessary for fullness, the Son of God would have lacked something.
The apostle Paul also lived single. In 1 Corinthians 7:7, he writes, “Each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” He does not rank the gifts. He does not treat singleness as a consolation prize. He calls it grace. That word matters. Grace is not an accident. It is not a leftover. It is given.
My understanding of singleness has also been shaped by faithful mentors God has placed in my life. One of those men is Dr. Scott Horrell, my theology professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, who has been my mentor, spiritual father, friend, and prayer partner for the past 25 years. In his article “The Covenant of Singleness: The Bible and Church History,” he writes:
“Celibacy is a free choice before God and not a requirement for higher Christian service, as some believe. But its elevation is, by all accounts, a radical turn from Old Testament Judaism. It is also a nod toward the future. Recall our Lord’s statement that in the resurrection, none will be married (Matt. 22:30).”
Another faithful voice on singleness is John Stott, a man of God who also lived a single life devoted to ministry. When asked, “Do you have a final word of advice for single people?” he said:
“Yes! First, don’t be in too great a hurry to get married. Pray daily that God will guide you to your life partner or show you if He wants you to remain single. Second, lead a normal social life. Develop many friendships. Third, if God calls you to singleness, don’t fight it. Remember the key text: ‘Each person has his or her own gift of God’s grace.’ (1 Cor. 7:7).”
Singleness is not an incomplete life. It is a life already anchored in the eternal. If you are single, you are not waiting to become whole. You are whole in Christ now.
Singleness as Purpose
Once identity is settled, purpose becomes clearer. Singleness is not a holding pattern, but usable time.
Paul speaks plainly in 1 Corinthians 7 about the practical freedom singleness provides: the ability to be concerned with “the things of the Lord,” without divided attention. This isn’t a criticism of marriage, but rather an acknowledgment of focus.
Scripture confirms this.
Anna, the widow in Luke 2:36–38, worshiped night and day in the temple. Her life, which might have seemed small to others, became the setting where she recognized the Messiah.
Jeremiah was chosen by the Lord for a purpose (Jeremiah 1:1–9). His obedience did not isolate him from God’s work; it sharpened it. In seasons of rejection and loneliness, he trusted the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7), prayed continually (Jeremiah 29:12), and remained faithful.
Nehemiah rebuilt a wall in the face of opposition (Book of Nehemiah).
Ruth walked through widowhood and uncertainty without bitterness. She chose loyalty over self-protection and trusted the God of Israel when her future seemed erased. Her hope was not loud, but steady…and the Lord honored it (Book of Ruth).
Joseph faced betrayal, false accusation, and persistent temptation. He named sin for what it was, feared God more than consequences, and remained faithful when no one was watching. The Lord shaped his character long before He raised his position (Genesis 37–50).
John the Baptist understood he was not the bridegroom but the friend who prepares the way. He refused applause, pointed others to Christ, and accepted obscurity so that Jesus would be seen. His joy was complete in stepping aside (John 3:22–30; Matthew 14:1–12).
None of them lived sidelined lives. Their singleness did not narrow their usefulness. It often widened it.
I see this truth every day at Scottsdale Bible Church. Many single believers and missionaries are faithfully serving the Lord through ministry, teaching, mentoring, and outreach. Their lives remind me that singleness is not a limitation. It’s a season to give ourselves fully to God’s Kingdom.
Singleness is not a limitation. It’s a season to give ourselves fully to God’s Kingdom.
I can honestly say I am content and deeply honored that Jesus has called me to serve Him as a single man in this season of life. Over 54 years, God has shown me that my purpose never changes: to seek Him, know Him, and love Him with all my heart. He calls us to live out that purpose. Every stage has its challenges and gifts—ways God shapes us to walk closer with Him.
Growing up in India, I thrived in intergenerational community. I was shaped by studying Scripture and sharing life with believers of all ages—young, old, married, single. Even at Dallas Theological Seminary, I never sought singles groups. I found joy in friendships that crossed generations. Singleness was never meant to be lived alone. God calls us to live it together, within the family of believers.
Being single has allowed me to embrace life in ways that bring joy and purpose—gardening, cooking, feeding my soul through music, serving creatively, hiking and more. Life is full and rich. I fill my days intentionally—building others up, writing notes of encouragement, leading teams, meeting people.
When I live surrendered to God, my days overflow with His goodness. Singleness is not empty. It is full. It is vibrant. It is a season to live fully for Him and to experience His joy in every moment.
Purpose grows where acceptance replaces resistance. When singleness is fought, it feels empty. When it is received, it becomes available. Available for prayer, for service, for mobility, for deep intergenerational friendships. It becomes time given back to God.
Singleness as Calling
A condition simply happens. A calling is received.
For some, singleness is lifelong. For others, it is seasonal. But in every case, it is not random. It is entrusted. God does not waste seasons. To treat singleness merely as a prelude to marriage is to risk missing what God is doing now.
Jesus lived 30 years in relative obscurity before three years of public ministry. Time hidden is not time wasted.
The question for a single believer is not, “When will this change?” but “How shall I live faithfully here?”
That faithfulness is not abstract. It looks like building friendships across life stages, serving in the church without resentment, investing in younger believers, opening one’s home, engaging in disciplined prayer. It looks like joy that is not postponed.
Singleness can cultivate attentiveness to God’s voice. It can develop resilience. It can deepen dependence. It can expand capacity for hospitality and spiritual fatherhood or motherhood.
It can also expose loneliness. That reality should not be denied. Jeremiah felt it. Paul acknowledged hardship. But loneliness does not invalidate calling.
The church must be a true family, not a collection of nuclear households. God never designed singleness to mean isolation. The body of Christ includes married and unmarried, young and old, woven together.
A single life lived in surrender is active ground. You are not unfinished. You are not overlooked. You are a son or daughter of God (1 John 3:1). You are called to seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33). You have been given a gift, whether for a season or a lifetime (1 Corinthians 7:7).
Do not wait to begin your life. Live it in pursuit of Christ. God has placed you here, now, on purpose. And there is no higher status than faithfulness.
For your good. For His glory.
Jimmy Guvvala
North Ridge Groups & Enrichment Pastor
If you’re single, you’re a valued and essential part of our church family. Get connected in Young Adults (ages 18-33) or Men’s and Women’s ministries, where you can be encouraged and strengthened through meaningful community.
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