QT 3/17/2025 1 Cor 7:32-40, Living for that which lasts for eternity

1 Corinthians 7:32–40 (ESV) —

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 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. 35 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.

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.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

 

NOTE: On one side of the coin, it would seem that Paul is ignoring the command to be fruitful and multiply. Since he is not commanding his view point but rather suggesting, he is not violating God's law. Plus, he believed that the days were (are) drawing to an end. The world is not as God originally intended. The greater mission is the Great Commission, not the Great Multiplication.

 

Life is different from what it was at creation. Sin has changed everything, and the cross changed everything again. To use an old analogy, the ship is sinking and we need to be focused on saving people. We can't expect to live life such that life itself is the reward. This life is no longer our reward. Ever since we lost access to the tree of life and our days were reduced to 7-score, living for this life has been an empty bucket. We need to prepare ourselves for the new millennium. We need to do all that we can to become more like our savior.

 

PONDER:

What am I living for? This life or for God?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to remain focused on that which is most important. There is nothing evil about enjoying the good things that you provide, but it is a waste to live for them.