Singleness was one of the topics that I had never heard a sermon on before and yet it seems to affect so many so deeply these days.  I've sermons on how to have a biblical marriage or how to shepherd your children, but not many on how to do singleness well.  Some sermons touch upon how to end the single life by dating and getting married, and I think that is a good thing to talk about.  In fact, I heard a talk by Al Mohler on Family Life today in which he challenges young people to get married earlier.  He especially challenges the men to be active rather than passive in persuing marriage, preparing to be a godly father of a household, and stepping it up as a man.  For some, who are delaying marriage, he even labels it disobedience.  Those were some pretty strong words - although I think I probably needed to hear those words when I was single in my twenties.  I probably unconsciously thought that all good gifts ought to come to me without much effort on my part and needed to grow up a bit.

However, though there is merit in Al Mohler's sermon, it doesn't necessarily cover everyone who is single.  Some are single by birth, others are single because of external circumstances and finally there are others who are single for the sake of the kngdom.  Eunuch's for the kingdom's sake.

What a fascinating picture - of being a eunuch for the kingdom.  The term eunuch captures the emotional harshness of the condition - both physcially and emotionally.  And yet at the same time also invokes a devotion that has no other allegiances, loyalties, or relational connections.  The eunuch waits hand a foot upon the royal king, and at his beck and call for service.  What an inspiring yet sacrificial picture of a servant of Christ.  There have been many throughout history and even within our local church that have reflected this metaphor.

However, one more thought on the sacrifice of this eunuch for the kingdom.  I think the hardest thing that I've heard is the loneliness that singles might go through.  I remember when my parents were gone and I was single, those graduations, birthdays, Christmases - those were probably the toughest times in regards to the aloneness.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer and others believe that the church ought to be the family for these people.  What do you tink - do you think the church ought to be able to replace the family that these singles sacrficie?  Or is the family God's institution that cannot be replaced but just must be placed on the altar of sacrifice?  I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts and discussion.

Tony