1 Corinthians 7:32-35

                                                                 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

 

There are advantages and disadvantages to being married.  Additional anxiety is one of the disadvantages of marriage that has Paul concerned about those who are married.  The Lord and His kingdom are what should be of utmost importance to all believers whether they are married or not.  From Paul’s perspective, the advantages to being unmarried make prioritizing the kingdom more likely.

 

THE UNMARRIED CAN FOCUS ON MINISTRY: One of the benefits of singleness is that it allows for an undivided focus on ministry and efforts to please the Lord.  Paul was a clear example of how being single permitted a life of sacrificial service to the kingdom that would not have been possible in the context of marriage.  His endless travels, long hours of work and ministry and even his willingness to face imprisonment and persecution were all facilitated by his single married status.  There are certain types of missionary advances and dangerous activities that are best undertaken by those who are single.  Both single men and women have been used to accomplish tasks on the mission field that would be difficult for a married individual to perform.

 

THE MARRIED MUST FOUCUS ON MARRIAGE: Entering the commitment of marriage implies living life together.  Marriages require time and effort in order for them to work well.  Marriages typically lead to producing children which adds another level of responsibility to the couple.  Marriage is an important institution that was designed by God for His glory and to promote human flourishing.  God uses the marital relationship as an illustration of His love for the church.  Marriage matters to God and those who choose to marry must give great attention to that marriage.  Paul is not so much lamenting this truth but is stating is as a matter of fact or even a command.  Married couples must also focus on how their marriage and ministry together can be used to advance the kingdom.  However, there are certain types of paces of ministry that cannot be undertaken in the context of a marriage.

 

APPLICATION: Every single person must seek to answer the question as to whether they can serve God most effectively by remaining single.  Those who would struggle to remain pure in the context of being single should seek to be married.  Married couples should consider the health of their marriage to be a priority.  They too must seek for how they can best advance the kingdom of God.

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