1 Corinthians 7:25-31 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 7:25-31. Let’s go!
1 Corinthians 7:25-28 (NIV)
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.
27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.
28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
On verses 25-28: What “present crisis” is Paul referring to in verse 26? It is not entirely clear. Some scholars think Paul may be referring specifically to a famine that had hit the region including Corinth. Others think Paul may be referring more generally to the normal struggles people were experiencing from day to day, or what Paul believed was the soon coming return of Jesus Christ. In any event, Paul advises the Christians in Corinth to “remain as you are” (v26). So to the already married Paul tells them not to seek a divorce (v27a) and to those who are single Paul advises not to be too caught up trying to look for a future spouse (v27b). Paul does clarify that getting married is certainly not a sin (v28a) but he wants to spare his people from the troubles that married people will inevitably go through (v28b).
What can we learn from this?
1. Marriage is a blessing, but it’s not a walk in the park! Those who get married will face challenges and troubles that unmarried will not have to face, and vice versa. Don’t ever fall into the trap of thinking that getting married (or staying single) will solve all your problems; it won’t. Marriage and singleness each comes with its own set of challenges and trouble. Marriage is not a saviour. Singleness is not a saviour. Only Jesus is the saviour.
2. Notice that Paul gives this advice not because God has commanded him to give it, but as an opinion based on his experience and his role as an apostle. What can we learn from this? You don’t need to hear directly from God on every single little matter in life before you act. God gives us a brain and a heart as well as the freedom to use them. You can overspiritualize a decision-making process by requiring that you need to hear from God on every little matter, when that is not necessarily what God requires. Imagine a child who into his 20s, 30s and 40s refuses to make any decision, even the decision as simple as what to eat or when to sleep or what to wear, without consulting his parents. That is not a sign of maturity, but immaturity. It can also lead to a life where you never take responsibility for your own decisions but blame others for why you are in the place you’re in. It can lead to wasted time and missed opportunities when we always think, “I need to audibly hear the voice of the Lord on this issue” before you act. Don’t get me wrong. On important decisions, it is important to seek the Lord and to get good advice. It is important to ask God for wisdom generally and in many situations specifically. But God wants you to grow up with His values, wisdom and perspective increasingly engrained in your heart such that you don’t need to “get a word from God” on every little thing that you’re thinking about doing. Rather God wants you yourself to make good and wise decisions with the goal of honouring God and to own those decisions yourself.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NIV)
29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
On verses 29-31: Does Paul mean that husbands should ignore their wives or actually live as if they were single again (v29)? No. I believe Paul is using slightly exaggerated language in verses 29-31 to express a point: we must live with a sense of purpose and urgency. As Paul says in verse 29, “time is short”. Jesus is coming again (“this world in its present form is passing away” – v31). So don’t get caught up in a lifestyle where it’s just all about your love life (v29b), or all about your feelings (“those who mourn” – v30), or all about your happiness (“those who are happy” – v30), or all about material things (“those who buy something” – v30), or all about the things we have or use in this world (v31). Instead live your life for God’s greater purposes.
But when exactly is Jesus coming again? We don’t know. That’s why a good piece of advice I once received is this: plan for a 1,000 years but live each day as if Jesus were coming again tomorrow. In other words, live with a sense of urgency balanced with wisdom, going after the things that matter most and making the most of every opportunity, so that you will have no regrets at the end of your life.
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me today that part of growing up is realizing that nothing – not marriage, not being single, not any material possession and not any circumstance – can save me. Only You can save me. So I declare today that You alone are my hope. Thank You that part of growing up is learning to make mature decisions with the goal of honouring You without having to consult You on every little matter. Thank You that part of growing up is not getting caught up in the little things while missing the biggest thing. May I live for Your purposes today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
