See here's the thing with our sex drive, it's cyclical.

Our bodies go through natural cycles of chemical lows or build ups that cause hormones to be released that make us feel a need to bring the low or build up back into a balance.

Eg: when you body lacks sugars and nutrients, the chemicals signal the body and it responds with a sensation we know as hunger. Hunger motivates us to eat. We eat and the sugars and nutrients get back in balance and we feel satisfied. This satisfaction is by nature temporary, once the balance depletes again we will be hungry again.

The thing is with food that there are social elements to eating, and pleasure elements. Certain foods taste better than others, plus eating with friends or family is much more enjoyable than eating alone (we are social creatures). One can eat for the sake of the pleasure it brings or just to be social, even when we are not hungry. This can lead to all sorts of inappropriate eating.

The same is true of sex.
We have a desire to have physical release. It is pleasurable and social.
What I'm suggesting is that we need to exercise self-control over the places of over-indulgence (ie:sexual immorality) that this drive pushes us towards. We can find a place to get the balance back into our body chemistry without all the over indulgences for the sake of pleasure and other emotional needs. Now for single people, it seems that masturbation is the most logical recourse for restoring this balance. Sure we have to deal with all the side issues of over indulging, excessive fantasy (whatever level you put that at [none - non-specifice persons - full blown sexfantasy]) and using it to fulfil emotional needs that it cannot fulfil. However, lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

If someone says they eat too much or that they eat the wrong kinds of foods, the solution is not to stop eating. The solution is to eat in a healthy manner. Neither is it wrong to enjoy the eating. As long as we are the master of the eating and not the other way round.

I think this is true of masturbation as well.
The question is, what is healthy masturbation?
Some have suggested that any sexual fantasy is sexual immorality. I really can't fault this from the Scriputres. The call to holiness and purity would have no conflict with this idea.
However, I also see that the real concern of Scripture in regards to sexual immorality is the engaging of another person in an extra-maritial sexual act.
The way I figure it, you can use fantasy to covet such a relationship or you can use it to get your body back into a balance so that you STOP coveting such a relationship.

Those of you who suggest that this is sinful regardless, may be correct. However you still admit that it is going to happen and that God's grace, mercy and forgiveness will be needed at such times. Some have also suggested that its better to do this than have a porn addiction or other sexual problem. I think at the end of the day we are all heading in the same direction. We are seeking to honour God with our sexuality and manage it in a Godly and holy manner.

I doubt that my thinking on this subject will settle just yet. I have been accused of twisting the Scripture to justify my indulgence. I honestly don't believe I'm doing that. I'm exploring the subject, I'm not claiming I'm correct or that the Bible says its ok to sexually fantaisise. Sexuality is such a powerful drive and we always fall so far short of God's standards. We press on and keep seeking His teaching. What else can we do.

Blessings
Cat.