Marriage and Christian Service

Paul first dealt with married people even though he touched on the issue of not being married briefly.

Here Paul address those who are not married and haven’t been married.

Keep in mind, Paul has just told the church that they are to remain in whatever situation there are in.

1 Corinthians 7:25–40 (CSB)

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is faithful. 26 Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn’t own anything, 31 and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away. 32 I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction. 36 If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well. 38 So, then, he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry will do better. 39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

We are going to have trouble in this life.

There is nothing new under the sun. The church in Corinth was facing a time of trouble and the world we live in today is full of trouble as well.

To be fair, the American church is not facing the persecution the early church did but the global church is.

People remark how favored the church is in this country. It does not have to face persecution and rejection. If the truth were known, our freedom from persecution is because we have taken the easy, the popular way. If we would love righteousness until it became an overpowering passion, if we would renounce everything that is evil, our day of popularity and pleasantness would quickly end. The world would soon turn on us.

We are too nice! We are too tolerant! We are too anxious to be popular! We are too quick to make excuses for sin in its many forms! If I could stir Christians around me to love God and hate sin, even to the point of being a bit of a nuisance, I would rejoice. If some Christian were to call me for counsel saying he or she is being persecuted for Jesus’ sake, I would say with feeling, “Thank God!”

John 15:18–21; 1 Thessalonians 2:2–4; 2 Timothy 3:12

Jesus, Our Man in Glory, 67.

A. W. Tozer

The deeper issue is about your time and priorities.

Paul was not against marriage.

Paul understands the constraint of having another human being to be attached to. It’s not a bad thing but a reality - when you have a family, the family will take your time and attention (as it should).

For a believer, Jesus and the ministry of the gospel should be priority above all - this is possible when both parties are in Christ.

Time is short, we need to get to work.

Even if Jesus does not return any time soon our lives are short in comparison to eternity - so time is short.

We need not be overwhelmed by the social and material problems of the world - we are to live for the Lord.

If married - live for the Lord in your marriage.

If life brings sadness - live beyond it, live for eternity.

If life brings joy - do not become wrapped up in it.

If you are blessed with material possessions - do not hold on to them because they won’t last forever.