The Bible has a great deal to say about singleness. This study gathers passages from across Scripture and sets them out for reading and reflection.
What Scripture Says
When we think of singleness, our minds often turn to marital status, but the Bible speaks of singleness in a deeper way: a heart that is undivided, whole, and set fully upon one thing. In Acts 2:46, the early church is described as “continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” Here singleness of heart is the inner posture of a people wholly devoted, worshiping together with gladness. It is not about being alone; it is about being unified within—one heart, one focus, one joy—even in the middle of a gathered community.
The apostle Paul picks up this same word in Ephesians 6:5, where servants are told to obey their masters “with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.” And again in Colossians 3:22, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” In both places, singleness of heart is set against eyeservice—working only when watched, pleasing people rather than God. Singleness here means an undivided loyalty that does not shift with the audience. The heart is not split between what others see and what God sees.
Taken together, these verses show that the Bible’s teaching on singleness is not first about whether a person marries. It is about whether the heart is whole before God. A married person can have a divided heart; a single person can have a divided heart. The call is the same for both: to live with singleness of heart, fearing God, serving Christ, and sharing life with gladness. The early church ate together with singleness of heart; the servant worked with singleness of heart. In every station and season, the Lord asks for an undivided inner life.
This does not mean that marital status is unimportant. But it does mean that Scripture locates the real issue deeper than circumstances. Whether one is single or married, the question is whether the heart is unified around Christ or scattered among many masters. Singleness of heart is possible in any season because it depends not on having a spouse or not, but on belonging wholly to the Lord.
Living It Out
Practically, this means that if you are single—whether for a season or for life—your calling is not to wait until your circumstances change before you live wholeheartedly for God. You can serve with singleness of heart right now, in your work, your church, your friendships, and your daily routines. You do not need to perform for people or wait for an audience. You can do what is right because God sees, not because someone is watching. You can give yourself to worship, to service, and to glad fellowship with others, just as the early church did.
If you are married, the same applies: your heart can still be divided, and the Lord still asks for singleness of heart. The goal is not to compare callings but to pursue an undivided heart wherever you are. Ask God to expose the places where you are living for eyeservice rather than for Him. Ask Him to make you whole, one heart, one loyalty, one fear—the fear of God—so that in every season your life is marked by gladness and singleness of heart.
Reflection
- Where in your life are you living with a divided heart—serving for people’s approval rather than with singleness of heart before God?
- How would your daily life change if you believed that singleness of heart, not marital status, is the deeper calling God has for you right now?
Verses to Consider
- Acts 2:46 — And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
- Ephesians 6:5 — Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
- Colossians 3:22 — Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
Where These Come From
These verses are drawn from different parts of the Bible on purpose. A subject is rarely settled by a single line; the whole counsel of Scripture gives the shape of it.