Pastor John here is an interesting question from a single mom who has the gift of singleness

or she thinks she has the gift of singleness.

Anna is her name and she writes this, Pastor John, thank you for all of your wonderful

service to our Lord.

My question for you is one that I have wrestled with since the birth of my only child, a son.

He's now three.

I'm a single parent and have been since his conception and I thank the Lord for his

work in my heart that has transformed my soul and lifestyle from where it was until now.

Now as I attempt to wrap my head around the overwhelming task of raising this boy into

a man by myself, I do not feel called to marriage, but am I obligated to find the godly mate

to complete the model of a family that's clearly laid out in Scripture?

As a single parent, is it forbidden for me to embrace a life of singleness and unhindered

service to the Lord as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 7?

Well I join Anna in rejoicing that God has changed her life from those days and it sounds

really true that he has, here's my short answer, no, no, Anna is not obligated to find

a godly mate so that her son can have a father.

I don't see any direct mandate in the Bible or clear implication of biblical teaching

that rises to the level of obligation, so that's my short answer.

My encouragement would be not in terms of obligation, but rather perhaps openness to marriage

and prayer towards marriage, let me just sew a few thoughts into your thinking so that

as you ponder and pray over the Scriptures, God might use these to direct your thinking.

First, Jesus, the incarnate Jesus that we know in the Gospels as an expression of God's

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