Note 3 at 1Co 7:27: This is a very clear command for a married person not to seek divorce.

Note 4 at 1Co 7:27: This is a very clear command for single people not to seek mates. This comes as a radical statement to most people today. Many Christian singles feel compelled to get married. They pray for mates constantly. That is contrary to what Paul spoke here.

If it is God's will for you to be married, the correct way to find that mate is not to go seeking him or her. Instead, seek the Lord and He will bring the perfect mate to you.

Pr 18:22 says, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD." Ps 34:10 says, "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." Therefore, if a mate is a good thing for you, the Lord will bring that person to you as you seek Him.

God brought Eve to Adam, Rebekah to Isaac, and Ruth to Boaz, and He will bring your mate to you if you will seek Him and not a mate. This takes all the frustration out of finding a mate, and it also will prevent choosing the wrong mate. The whole dating process as we know it in the western world today is not God's way.

If you shop around and become emotionally and physically involved with a potential mate and then approach the Lord to ask, "Is this the one?" you are going to have a hard time hearing God's voice. Your emotions and hormones are going to be speaking so loudly that it will be hard to hear the still, small voice of God.

The scriptural way of receiving your mate from God is the way that Paul put forth here. Are you single? Don't seek a mate! Seek God, and if the Lord wills for you to be married, He will arrange it.