July 18
________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SINGLE AND THE MARRIED
7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife. – 1 Corinthians 7:7-11
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul advises both single and married people. He reminds them that his wishes is for them to be like him, single and serving the Lord. He recognizes the fact that each one had been given different gifts to use to do kingdom work. In verse 8, he addresses the single and the widows. He wants them to remain unmarried. Why? I think that Paul presents the upside of being single. When one is single, they can focus on serving the Lord with undivided attention. When one is married, there comes many distractions to making God our focus. There will be responsibilities that one needs to take care of and it can sometimes impede in your priorities. There is also a lot of challenges that come with relationships, but God created us for it. The only way we can have healthy relationships with others is when we have a healthy and deep understanding of our relationship with God. Otherwise, we will fail in our foremost role of being a servant of Christ.
Even though Paul warns them of the troubles they will face when married, in verse 8, he gives them a solution to their passion. He recommends to marry and have their own husband or wife. In verse 10, he gives them the consequence of their choice to marry. It is a permanent covenant where they will remain together forever. We still see the wisdom of this teaching because even though the wife decides to leave when they were disallowed to do so, she cannot re-marry. She can be reconciled again to her husband. The husband is instructed never to divorce his wife.
But what do you do when things do not work as you thought it would when you get married? This teaching is clearly for believers. It reiterates the marriage covenant’s permanency and foundation. Since it is God who allowed them to marry each other, no one can break that promise, not even their own selves. God gives a way out for those who didn’t enter this covenant agreement in God’s perspective.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it better to be single when you are a Christian?