Jan 7, 2024
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
The apostle Paul has covered a wide range of topics regarding marriage in this chapter. To this point he has written concerning folks who are married, divorced, and widowed. Now he addresses people who have never been married.
Though he certainly does not view being single as spiritually superior to being married, he encourages the unmarried … whether divorced or widowed or never married … to remain single. It is clear from this passage that Paul is offering his own opinion rather than a divine command … "I have no command from the Lord" (1 Cor 7:25).
While not speaking of the wonderful benefits and pleasures of marriage, Paul lauds two benefits that single people enjoy. First, unmarried people are spared the multiplied troubles the come with multiplied people in a family. "Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that" (1 Cor 7:28).
Second, unmarried people have more leisure time and, usually, more expendable money, for service in God's kingdom. Paul calls it "undivided devotion to the Lord." "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" (1 Cor 7:32-34).
Whether married or single, Paul exhorts all believers to live in such a way that the present age does not control our deepest affections for everlasting joys … "For the present form of this world is passing away" (1 Cor 7:31). Let us all "set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth" (Col 3:2).