Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Friday, March 14, 2025

QT 3/14/2025 1 Cor 7:25-31, Where do we put our affections?

1 Corinthians 7:25–31 (ESV) —

25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

 

NOTE: Even though this was written almost 2000 years ago, the wisdom still holds true. Stuff brings worldly troubles. It is nice to own a home until the roof needs replacing or you live in Texas and the foundation is moving. More stuff just fills up closets and attics, such that downsizing will take a herculean effort. And all the stuff takes time that could be spent in the work of the kingdom. It requires ever increasing money that could be given to the Lord. And it fills up our hearts with inconsequential desires. Whether we buy another gizmo won't help us to know God or grow deeper in our relationship to him. So Paul's advice, there is nothing evil about marriage and having stuff, but it will add worldly troubles, and in most cases it will make us less effective in our personal ministries.

 

PONDER:

  1. What commands my time?
  2. What owns my heart?
  3. What do I need to get rid of?

 

PRAYER: Father, protect me from myself, from my bad decisions. Help me to make right choices with a view toward your kingdom. I want to continue to fall in love with you and not with things.

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