7:25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. 7:26 I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is. 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife. 7:28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. 7:29 But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 7:30 and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess; 7:31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. 7:32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 7:33 but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 

Today's Lesson 

Paul is writing to the Corinthians concerning sexual immorality and the family. To those that were married, he emphasized the importance of being married. Marriage is God's way of dealing with our sexuality. Even so, Paul's instruction to those that were unmarried was that if they could maintain self-control, they were to remain unmarried. God calls us in every state and it is not whether we are married or unmarried that makes us holy.

Paul now deals with virgins, those that have never been married. Paul has the same advice for virgins, but  this time he includes another reason as to why they should remain as they are. Paul tells them that, "because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is." The distress that Paul is concerned about was probably the coming persecution of the church. Paul tells the Corinthians that it is best to remain in the state that they are in order to prepare for the distress to come.

So Paul writes to them that if they are married, they should remain married. If they are unmarried, they should remain unmarried. But, he also makes it clear that if they change their status, they have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not fallen from grace, but it will be easier in the coming distress if they were to remain as they were.

In whatever state they find themselves, they should live as though the time was short. Those that weep, should live as those that do not. Those that rejoice should live as those that do not rejoice. They should live with their eyes toward the goal of their salvation in Christ.

By doing this, the Christian lives to please God. That is to be our goal in all things. Even today, at a time of unprecedented prosperity, the time is short. We are all on this earth for such a little while. In whatever state we find ourselves, let us live our lives devoted to God.

In what state were you called to be a child of God? What have you done today to live your life for God?

Psalm / Past Lesson / Next Lesson / Lesson Archive / Home

© 2001 adailywalk.com - These materials may be reproduced as long as they are never sold in any form.