Why is marriage incompatible in order to have a life dedicated to God?

[carolina16]

If both have the same call and do not have children, they can devote all their time to work for the Lord, right? Is there a reason why marriage makes it impossible to dedicate full time to God?

 

[PloverWing]

Marriage shouldn't be a barrier to full-time service of God. In fact, if both partners have the same calling, they should be able to support each other in their common ministry. I know a number of married couples who are both priests, or both missionaries, or both lay people who devote significant hours to Christian service. Some of these couples have children, even.

 

[dqhall]

If both have the same call and do not have children, they can devote all their time to work for the Lord, right? Is there a reason why marriage makes it impossible to dedicate full time to God?

The Protestant churches do not discriminate against married individuals. Married people may serve in the church as pastors, preachers, ministers or priests. Peter was married. In Matthew 8:14-15, Jesus went to heal his mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. Paul wrote the other apostles had wives to accompany them.

Single men were selected to serve as priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus and Paul were not married.

 

[snowgirl14]

Celibacy is not mandatory in the Church, everyone has different callings. I feel called to be a wife, but not a mother. My husband shares the same calling to not have children.

 

[HTacianas]

If both have the same call and do not have children, they can devote all their time to work for the Lord, right? Is there a reason why marriage makes it impossible to dedicate full time to God?

Wives tend to get in the way of a lot of things. It's difficult to spend 8 to 10 hours a day in prayer when you have family obligations.

 

[Northbrook]

This one is making me think of something Gandhi always used to say about his mother. Evidently, Gandhi’s mother was a devout Hindu who always managed to observe the fasts, recite the prayers, and go to the temple despite having a husband and four children. Gandhi admired his mother very much and always used to cite her as an example of how YOU CAN DO IT MARRIED!

 

[RDKirk]

If both have the same call and do not have children, they can devote all their time to work for the Lord, right? Is there a reason why marriage makes it impossible to dedicate full time to God?

No, there is no such reason.

 

[Sketcher]

If both are Christians and are listening to the Holy Spirit, I don't see why a spouse would be a hindrance to doing God's work.

 

[carolina16]

Wives tend to get in the way of a lot of things. It's difficult to spend 8 to 10 hours a day in prayer when you have family obligations.

You are saying that for the children?

 

[Sketcher]

Wives tend to get in the way of a lot of things. It's difficult to spend 8 to 10 hours a day in prayer when you have family obligations.

To clarify, what able-bodied people are able to spend 8 to 10 hours a day in prayer? From my understanding, even monks have lots of work to do.

 

[PloverWing]

When I was a young mother, I remember praying "Please, please, make this baby go to sleep" for hours and hours every day.

 

[RDKirk]

The spiritual example: Priscilla and Aquila. If they were spiritual failures as a couple, why are they mentioned six times in the New Testament?

Nothing more needs be said.

 

[Lady Bug]

I've always worried that marriage would make my devotion to God more difficult. As a single person, I'm not bound by responsibilities to someone and can use that time to read and study the Bible. My problem is that it is excruciatingly lonely without a companion, but the dichotomy is that I feel it would take time away from serving the Lord to my fullest capacity. I don't know what to do. It feels very sad to be in caught between these two scenarios.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

If both have the same call and do not have children, they can devote all their time to work for the Lord, right? Is there a reason why marriage makes it impossible to dedicate full time to God?

Depends on the other responsibilities and the call on the other person's life.

A couple may have the same call but one of them have other responsibilities that requires much of their time...such as having
guardianship of a special needs child who has medical issues and
goes to the doctors several times a week.
I know a lady who had to assume care/guardianship of her young
special needs cousin.

 

[Francis Drake]

Celibacy is not mandatory in the Church, everyone has different callings. I feel called to be a wife, but not a mother. My husband shares the same calling to not have children.

And how do you think "but not a mother" would have panned out 2000 years back, long before the pill, abstinence maybe?

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

False™

 

[Greg J.]

If both have the same call and do not have children, they can devote all their time to work for the Lord, right? Is there a reason why marriage makes it impossible to dedicate full time to God?

Raising children is the work of the Lord (Genesis 9:7). Being married is the work of the Lord (Mark 10:7-9). Earning an income is the work of the Lord (Ephesians 4:28). The beginning of Matthew 28:19 doesn't translate well into English, but what it means is, as you go, the implication (to me) being "as you go about your life..."

Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20, ISV)

And then, of course:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, 1984 NIV)

To inform you of the work the Lord wants you to do—ask Him. In lieu of a clear answer, discover what gift(s) the Lord has given you, and use them according to his nature (revealed in Scripture) and what He commanded in Scripture (e.g., advance His kingdom).