My beloved spake, and said unto me,
Rise up, my love, my fair one,
and come away.
~ Song of Solomon 2:10, KJV
Dear Darlene
I just found your blog this morning, and enjoying (and learning much from) everything I have read so far. You are a very wise and blessed woman. I would like to ask your insight on something I am trying to figure out.
A little background about myself: I am 18-years-old, I am in college, living at home with my parents, and I am preparing to transfer to a 4-year college to study bible/theology and counseling/psychology.
Recently, I have found myself very interested in learning about what biblical femininity and biblical womanhood really is (a subject that our present culture neglects and discourages quite a bit). I am learning about compassion, godliness, and essentially servant-hood. When I read blogs, articles, the Bible, etc on the subject of what a woman is and what her role in society is–the discussion and teaching is directed towards what a woman should do, and how they should live “as a wife and a mother.”
This is where I am confused. I am somewhat at a loss regarding what my role as a Christian woman is right now…and how I can be a “biblical servant” to God and others in my life. So essentially, my question is, what are a young single woman’s roles, and what can she do for God and others on a daily basis?
Your insight and advice would be greatly appreciated!
Single Servant
Dear Single Servant,
Thank you for your letter. Humbled and grateful for your encouragement. God is a wise and caring teacher, while I am a servant blessed by His incomparable grace.
I was prayerfully considering your thoughts for a couple of days, when a word came to me unexpectedly.
I received a comment from a single man. This is what he said, “I don’t have a bride – I do have the other side of me… The only way to get the one side to give way to the other is choose which way to live – and live it.”
While my blog speaks to an audience that is primarily women, and of those, many stay-at-home moms, the Biblical principles can be gleaned by everyone.
For example, I often talk about submission, and how wives are instructed to be submissive to their husbands. In much the same way, those who are single must live in submission to Christ. It’s like a traditional marriage in many ways, except rather than having a man in your life, you are the bride of an infallible groom.
In fact the Bible refers to the church as His bride. Wives were created to be their husband’s help meet, and the church—male and female, single and married–is created to honor Christ and be “meet”(ready and prepared) for His use.
If a man therefore purge himself from
these [work of iniquity], he shall be a vessel
unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s
use, and prepared unto every good work.
~ 2 Timothy 2:21, KJV
In this relationship there are no petty arguments to deal with, He doesn’t have bad habits that you need to accept, and he’s never in a foul mood. As His betrothed, you are to honor Him with your words and your life, so that His Word is not maligned.
Read this verse again with that in mind.
“To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed.
~ Titus 2:5
Further to submission, we need to realize that our body envelopes the Spirit and flesh, which are constantly at war with one another—both sides want to lead. Those who belong to Christ, as His bride, allow Him to rule in their life, which means that the flesh must be in submission to the Spirit.
That he might present it to himself
a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy
and without blemish.
~ Ephesians 5:27
Biblical womanhood could be summed up in two words: Biblical Living. That encompasses all women, married and single alike.
In 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, Paul is talking about being single when he says, “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”
And so we see that being single is a blessing that should not be overlooked. Embrace this gift while you have it.
For thy Maker is thine husband;
the LORD of hosts is his name;
and thy Redeemer the Holy One of
Israel; The God of the whole
earth shall he be called.
~ Isaiah 54:5, KJV
Marriage is merely a shadow of the divine union between Jesus Christ and His holy spotless bride. Your role is to have an intimate relationship with the Lord being both ready and prepared for His use.
I pray that these thoughts encourage you.
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene
For comments or questions, contact me at:
darlene[at]darleneschacht.net
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In participation with:
Today and every Tuesday, I want to invite bloggers to link-up any blog posts that will encourage women to joyfully live out their roles as wives and keepers of their homes I’m looking for posts on marriage, parenting, housekeeping, or recipes.
All you have to do is enter the direct link from your post into the linky tool below!
I’d also like to ask you to link back here with the {TITUS 2}SDAYS code (below) so that other bloggers can join in too!
