Single Focus
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Asked and Answered
Questions from Corinth
1 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB95)
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote …
Beginning in chapter 7, Paul has begun to answer various questions which the Corinthian Christians had posed to him.
There has been this ongoing correspondence between the apostle Paul and the church in Corinth.
They had questions about the marriage relationship.
They had questions about divorce.
Now Paul turns to their questions about singleness.
We in the church today get the benefit of going through their mail.
Your single focus should be …
I. Finding Peace and Satisfaction in Jesus Christ (vv. 25-28)
I. Finding Peace and Satisfaction in Jesus Christ (vv. 25-28)
25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, 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 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
Concerning Virgins
No command
Paul does not have a specific teaching of Jesus that he draws upon, but as one who is trustworthy is trustworthy, he gives biblical insight and wisdom into their situation.
In 1 Corinthians 7:40, we will see that Paul trusts he has the Holy Spirit’s direction as he seeks to counsel.
The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, so everything Paul touches on here is straight from the heart of God.
In view of the present distress
We cannot be sure what distress Paul had in mind
Distress — “a time of increasing trouble or crisis”
The word means the Corinthian Christians were experiencing current distress, but also includes any distress that any Christians will experience.
This letter was written around 56 A.D., meaning it predates the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem
This period of time saw the reign of Emperor Nero over Rome. 10 years after the writing of this letter, Christianity would experience intense persecution under Nero.
Nero would place Christians in animal skins and turn wild beasts on them.
Nero would dip Christians in wax, hang them in his gardens, then light them on fire to illuminate his parties.
Was this what Paul had in mind?
Paul and the apostles certainly experienced distress
Jesus said we would experience trouble
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Paul said there would be trouble in the last days
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
When did the last days begin?
A.D. — anno domini — in the year of our Lord
Once Jesus’ earthly mission had been accomplished, the last days began.
Reflecting on what Jesus taught, it could just be that Paul recognized with God’s plan for salvation fulfilled, Christians would experience trouble in the last days.
Paul’s encouragement is the same for the Corinthians Christians as for us today.
Remain as you are
This is nothing new.
Paul has said because of the Gospel, it is good for Christians to give full allegiance to God no matter their circumstances.
If you are married — stay married
Don’t spend your life focusing on finding peace by changing your current circumstances.
If you are single — stay single
Don’t spend your life focusing on finding peace by changing your current circumstances.
Attempting to Find Peace and Satisfaction
Peace — a state of quietness, calmness, and security
In view of the present distress, people would be seeking relief.
Marrieds — if only I was single, my life would be more peaceful
If only I didn’t have the obligations of marriage
If only I had more time
If only I had more money
If only I didn’t have a spouse or children who depend on me
Singles — if only I was married, my life would be more peaceful
If only I had a spouse
If only I had children
If only I had a space to settle down
Count the Cost
In view of the present distress, consider whether now is the time to get married.
If you choose to get married, there is nothing wrong with that, just understand exactly what marriage requires of you:
Marriage demands the ultimate effort
Marriage demands your time
Marriage demands your energy
Marriage demands your resources
Marriage demands sacrifice
Marriage demands selflessness
Be prayerful about whether you should get married.
QUESTION: What Should We Do About Our Singleness?
ANSWER: Those who are married will experience trouble
This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just a reality
The moment one man and one woman get married, from that moment there’s irreconcilable differences.
Why?
TWO SINNERS: Because God takes two sinners, each with their own selfish problems, and they make a binding covenant with God that they will selflessly serve the other until death.
Trouble? Yes. Beautiful? Absolutely.
TWO DIFFERENT GENDERS: Because God takes one man and one woman, and tells them to live life together. Men and woman think differently, feel differently, love differently, handle stress differently.
Trouble? Yes. Beautiful? Absolutely.
TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE: Because God takes two people from different backgrounds and joins them together until death. They have different views of how to spend time and money, different views of how to raise and parent children, different views of how to manage a household.
Trouble? Yes. Beautiful? Absolutely.
Paul is saying there are natural challenges that happen with marriage that singles don’t experience.
ANSWER: Celebrate your singleness — it is a tremendous blessing!
You have a unique liberty in your singleness that you will not find in marriage.
You have more time
You have more energy
You have more flexibility
You have more resources
You have more opportunities
ANSWER: Find satisfaction and contentment in your singleness
If you can’t be satisfied and content in your singleness, it will be incredibly difficult to be satisfied and content in your marriage.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
A romantic relationship will not make you satisfied and content.
ANSWER: Find peace in Jesus Christ
This world will have troubles.
Singleness won’t provide peace in those troubles. There are advantages and disadvantages to being single.
Marriage won’t provide peace in those troubles. There are advantages and disadvantages to being married.
Jesus Christ is the only one who can provide the peace you seek. There are only advantages to having your singular focus be on Jesus Christ.
Whether as a single person or a married person, your single focus should be finding peace and satisfaction in Jesus Christ.
Your single focus should be …
II. Dedicating Your Opportunities to Jesus Christ (vv. 29-31)
II. Dedicating Your Opportunities to Jesus Christ (vv. 29-31)
29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.
The Time is Short
The moment you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and committed to following His call on your life, your outlook changed from being a present, temporary outlook, to a future, eternal outlook.
Ephesians 5:15–16 (NASB95)
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
FROM NOW ON — Use this short time for eternal purposes
v. 29 — Those who are married should live as if they were not married
This doesn’t mean that you get to pretend that you’re not married and neglect the responsibilities of marriage.
It means that for the sake of Christ and the sake of the Gospel, Jesus Christ and His mission must come before your spouse.
Do you know how incredibly difficult that is?
That’s a challenge you accept when you get married though. And the truth of the matter is the more you devote yourself to the Lord, the more you’ll be able to give of yourself to your family.
Single people you have a blessing in your singleness! A blessing that allows you to fully dedicate your life to God!
You can be flexible
You can be even more generous with your time and resources
You can move at a moments notice
You can adapt to changing circumstances
There are a lot of people today who are single, but they live anchored down as though they were married.
This doesn’t mean that you should be careless as a single person.
It means that God has blessed you with a unique position that is more malleable than that of a married individual.
v. 30 — Those who weep as though they did not weep
Stop living depressed, stop pouting. Suck it up and live for Jesus.
We like to develop a “woe is me mentality.” Today it would be called a “victim mentality.”
Why am I not married yet? Why am I married?
Instead, you should be dedicating every opportunity to the Lord!
There is a place for sorrow, but sorrow should not define your life, especially as a Christian.
This world is temporary and eternity is on the line.
v. 30 — Those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice
Stop placing so much emphasis on the blessings you have in this life.
Start placing your emphasis on the fact that you as a Christian are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.
v. 30 — Those who buy as though they did not possess
Stop living as if everything you possess is your own.
Start recognizing everything you possess is firstly the Lord’s
If God allows you to keep it, great! Steward it wisely.
If God tells you to part with it for the benefit of someone else, great! His kingdom is being advanced.
v. 31 — Those who use this world as though they did not make full use of it
Stop abusing the gifts, opportunities, and time God has given you.
Start using the gifts, opportunities, and time you have been given to worship and serve God.
Temporary Time, Eternal Focus
Everything here in this life is temporary — dedicate your opportunities to the Lord
If you’re single, use your singleness for the glory of God
If you’re married, use your marriage for the glory of God
This world is passing away and eternity is coming
Your single focus should be …
III. Serving Jesus Christ with Undistracted Devotion (vv. 32-35)
III. Serving Jesus Christ with Undistracted Devotion (vv. 32-35)
32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
Divided Interests
Those who are married have naturally divided interests, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
If you are a husband, you’re called to love your wife as Christ loved the Church.
You are called to sacrifice and live selflessly for her daily
The way that you do that is by loving Jesus with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
If you are a wife, you’re called to submit to and respect your husband as you submit to the Lord.
You’re called to follow His spiritual leadership and be a help to him in that task.
The way you do that is by loving Jesus with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Single Focus
As a single person, you don’t have to worry about loving your wife as Christ loved the Church, or submitting to and respecting your husband.
Your single focus is on your relationship with Jesus.
Your single focus is being ready and willing to go where He calls.
Your single focus is using your time to serve Jesus.
Your single focus is using your energy to serve Jesus.
The blessing of being single is that your interests aren’t divided!
You don’t have the “distractions” that are present in a marriage.
“Honey-Do List” (Replace the toilet, paint the house, clean the gutters, etc.)
Single people wake up every day and think, “Wow, I wonder what I’ll do today.”
Use your time of singleness to give full devotion to God.
Where Does God Want You?
Remember, everyone has their gift from God!
Single
OR
Married
The question you should ask yourself as a single person is this:
“God, how can my life be used to advance Your kingdom?”
“God where do you want me?”
“God when do you want me to there?”
“God how do you want me to serve once I’m there?”
Some of you are thinking, “Well, where’s there? What is it? When will it be?
Who knows! God calls all sorts of individuals in all sorts of directions, and the only thing He wants to know is will you give me everything in the midst of that situation?
Will you serve Jesus with undistracted devotion?
If you want to get married, the question you should ask yourself is this:
“Will my marriage to this person further advance the kingdom?”
This is why it is so important to BE SATISFIED AND CONTENT IN YOUR SINGLENESS BEFORE you get married.
If you as a Christian man are passionate about serving Jesus while single, and you meet a Christian woman who is passionate about serving Jesus, when you get married you know your marriage testimony is going to advance the kingdom because you’ll be passionately pursuing Christ together.
It’s hard to do the reverse.
It’s hard to get married to someone who is less passionate about serving Jesus than you and then try to bring them along for the ride.
Your single focus should be serving Jesus Christ with undistracted devotion.
What is the best area for you to serve Jesus Christ with undistracted devotion? That choice is between you and God, and Paul addresses that next.
Your single focus should be on …
IV. Jesus Christ — Whether You Are Single or Married (vv. 35-40)
IV. Jesus Christ — Whether You Are Single or Married (vv. 35-40)
36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better. 39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
To Marry or Not to Marry — That is the Question
The choice to be single or be married is a decision between you and the Lord.
A single person can wake up one morning and say, “I think I want to get married.” Great! Get married!
A married person can’t say that. They can’t say, “I don’t want to be married anymore.” Well, that’s nice. Too bad.
Gifts from the Lord
Back at the beginning of this chapter, Paul said marriage and singleness are both gifts from the Lord.
Marriage is not a sin. Singleness is not a sin.
From Paul’s wise perspective, singleness has many benefits, but ultimately the ball is in your court.
Two different views on 1 Corinthians 7:36-38:
Paul is speaking to a man engaged to a young woman
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
1 Corinthians 7:36-38 ESV
Paul is speaking to the father of a young woman
The translation of the NASB (which we have been reading) and others is more closer to Paul’s original intent.
In the 1st century, marriage happened with the blessing of the father.
That’s how it happened in the 1st century
That’s how it will happen in the Bogan household
As Paul has been addressing marriage, divorce, and singleness, some of the fathers wanted to know if they should even allow their daughters to marry.
v. 36
If a man has a daughter who is a Christian, who wants to marry a man who is a Christian, it’s a good thing to let them marry.
v. 37
If a man has a daughter who is a Christian, who doesn’t want to marry (he is under no constraint) but wants to remain single, it’s a good thing to let her remain single.
v. 38
Parents who support their children’s marriage do well.
Parents who support their children’s singleness do well.
From Paul’s perspective, especially given the current distress, singleness was better, but the both choices were good and beneficial.
v. 39
If person is married and their spouse dies, they are free to remarry.
Paul wisely recognizes you can be content in your singleness as a widow or widower, but once again the choice to remarry is up to you.
How do I know which choice to make.
The Lord will help you.
Here’s a great place to start: Do what is bigger than you.
Pursue the path (marriage or singleness) that would be impossible unless God stepped in and helped. Pursue the path that requires complete dependence upon the Lord.
Well, both are impossible.
Here’s the next question: Which path will allow my life to bring more glory to God?
You start asking those questions, I promise the Lord will give you a very clear answer.
The final question is this: With my single focus on Jesus Christ, will I step out in faith wherever He directs?
What were the main questions that the Corinthian Christians posed to Paul regarding singleness?
How does Paul describe the nature of the current distress faced by the Corinthian Christians?
Why does Paul assert that both marriage and singleness are considered gifts from the Lord?
What does it mean for a single person to have 'undistracted devotion' to the Lord?
How can Christians find peace and satisfaction in their current marital status according to Paul?
What are some ways that you can celebrate your singleness and dedicate your opportunities to God?
In what specific areas of your life can you apply Paul's teachings about remaining as you are during distress?
How can being single offer unique opportunities to serve God compared to being married?
What is the importance of being content in your singleness according to the sermon?
What does Paul mean by saying that the 'form of this world is passing away' in relation to marriage and singleness?
Why is it essential to find peace in Jesus Christ rather than in marital status?
What practical steps can you take to focus your energies on serving Jesus with undistracted devotion?
How can understanding the impermanence of this world shape your decisions regarding relationships?
What distinction does Paul make between the responsibilities of married individuals and those who are single?
