The Gift of Singleness

"I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." - 1 Corinthians 7:7 (NIV)

In context, Paul is writing about the gift of singleness (and the gift of marriage). Taking a stab at the widespread sexual immorality of the Corinthians, he (sarcastically) wishes that all men were single like him.

[I believe that in the first part of verse 7 Paul is being sarcastic, not serious, because just a few verses earlier he suggests that 'since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband' (1 Corinthians 7:2, NIV).]

At the same time, in the second part of verse 7 Paul affirms that some have the gift of singleness and some have the gift of marriage. The question, then, is not whether there is the gift of singleness (and the gift of marriage). The question is who has the gift of singleness (and the gift of marriage).

Either everyone who is single has the gift of singleness (singleness is a status - and opportunity - which all single people have), or not everyone who is single has the gift of singleness (singleness is a spiritual gift which some have and some don't have).

To say that not everyone who is single has the gift of singleness implies that there are single people who are not supposed to have the gift of singleness. However, what about single people who are not supposed to have the gift of singleness but do not get married (for whatever reason)? Furthermore, what about single people who are supposed to have the gift of singleness but decide to get married?

In my judgment, it is more helpful to think of singleness as a status - and opportunity - which all single people have, rather than a spiritual gift which some have and some don't have.