1 Corinthians ~ Part 13

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As I mentioned in my last post, we continue to explore Sha’ul’s Letters to the Corinthians.

Regarding Marriage & Singleness ~ Part 3

Reason for Advice

Picking where we left off in my last post, the principle of remaining in the condition in which one is called to faith, which Sha’ul has repeated three times and illustrated by two extraneous examples (vv. 17–24), is now applied to the question at hand, the one about the unmarried (v. 25). In a time of stress like the present (v. 26) when there is not much time left (v. 29) because the present scheme of things in this world won’t last much longer (v. 31), it is good for a person to stay as he is (v. 26). One should decide in favor of a significant change in one’s life only if the change will help one to be free of concern (v. 32) for the world’s affairs (vv. 33, 34) and more able to give undivided devotion (v. 35) to the Lord’s affairs (vv. 32, 34).

²⁵ Now the question about the unmarried: I do not have a command from the Lord, but I offer an opinion as one who, by the Lord’s mercy, is worthy to be trusted.

I do not have a command from the Lord, which means that Yeshua gave no teaching on this subject as He did about divorce. Remember that in those days, parents arranged marriages for their children; it is different today. Sha’ul presents several facts for these parents to consider.

Marriage is a serious matter, and Messianics were facing difficult times. These tests were not to cause the married to divorce or the unmarried to be frightened out of marriage (v. 27), but due consideration had to be given to the situation. Living a dedicated Messianic life means sometimes forsaking even the world’s good things.

²⁶ I suppose that in a time of stress like the present, it is good for a person to stay as he is. ²⁷ That means that if a man has a wife, he should not seek to be free of her, and if he is unmarried, he should not look for a wife. ²⁸ But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl marries, she does not sin. It is just that those who get married will have the normal problems of married life, and I would rather spare you.

Sha’ul does not define a time of stress like the present. Possibly it refers to the responsibilities and hardships that can attend marriage and childrearing. Improperly handled, these can distract us from devotion to God; see verses 32–35 below.

²⁹ What I am saying, brothers, is that there is not much time left: from now on, a man with a wife should live as if he had none – ³⁰ and those who are sad should live as if they weren’t, those who are happy as if they weren’t, ³¹ and those who deal in worldly affairs as if not engrossed in them—because the present scheme of things in this world won’t last much longer.

Regardless of his situation, a person should live for the Lord. Two realities should heighten our emphasis on such a lifestyle of devotion: there is not much time left, and the present scheme of things in this world won’t last much longer.

Advantages of Singleness

³² What I want is for you to be free of concern. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord’s affairs, ³³ with how to please the Lord, but the married man concerns himself with the world’s affairs, with how to please his wife; ³⁴ and he finds himself split. Likewise, the woman who is no longer married or the girl who has never been married concerns herself with the Lord’s affairs, with how to be holy both physically and spiritually, but the married woman concerns herself with the world’s affairs, with how to please her husband. ³⁵ I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to put restrictions on you – I am simply concerned that you live in a proper manner and serve the Lord with undivided devotion.

One reason why Sha’ul remained unmarried was so that he could devote himself entirely to Yeshua’s service. His calling was such that he did not want to force his wife and family to suffer because of the Lord’s demands on him. While this is not the standard for Messianic servants, we must admire men like Sha’ul, David Brainerd, Robert Murray McCheyne, and others who gave their all to Yeshua in this sacrificial way. If these parents wanted their daughters to serve God, then they had to face the fact that marriage involves many cares and demands.

Regarding Marriage

³⁶ Now if a man thinks he is behaving dishonorably by treating his fiancée this way, and if there is strong sexual desire, so that marriage is what ought to happen, then let him do what he wants—he is not sinning: let them get married. ³⁷ But if a man has firmly made up his mind, being under no compulsion but having complete control over his will, if he has decided within himself to keep his fiancée a virgin, he will be doing well. ³⁸ So the man who marries his fiancée will do well, and the man who doesn’t marry will do better.

When it comes to marriage, it is next to impossible to lay down rules that fit each case. Sha’ul warns them that they must be convinced in their hearts and not merely follow the crowd or try to appear super spiritual.

Regarding Widows

³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, provided he is a believer in the Lord. ⁴⁰ However, in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains unmarried, and in saying this, I think I have God’s Spirit. ^[1]

Marriage cannot be broken because of some whim or fancy. Too many people (including some Messianics) have the idea, “If our marriage doesn’t work out, we can always get a divorce.” Not so, says Sha’ul! When you marry, be sure it is “in the Lord” – that is, be sure you marry a Messianic and that your mate is the one God has chosen for you. How tragic to see young lives ruined by hasty marriages.

In our next post, we will continue to explore Sha’ul’s Letters to the Corinthians, beginning with 1 Corinthians 8:1 and exploring a new topic entitled Regarding Mutual Submission.

Click here for the PDF version.

 

^[1] 1 Corinthians 7:25-40.