SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 7
MARRIAGE (vs. 1-39)
PAUL’S CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE:
- It is good for a man not to marry but since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (v. 1)
- The husband and wife should fulfill their own duty. (vs. 2-3)
- Their bodies belong to each other. (v. 4)
- Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (v. 5)
- It is good for the unmarried and the widows to stay unmarried. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (v. 8-9)
- A wife must note separate from her husband. But she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. (v. 10)
- If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. For the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband. (v. 12)
- If a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife. (v. 13)
- If the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances. ()v. 15)
- Each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. (v. 17)
THE RULE THAT PAUL LAID DOWN IN ALL THE CHURCHES:
Each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. It does not matter whether a man was circumcised or uncircumcised when he was called. Keeping God’s command is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. A slave called by the Lord is the Lord’s freeman. A freeman when he was called by the Lord is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price. Do not become slaves of men. Each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
For the virgins, it is good for you to remain as you are. For those married, do not seek a divorce. If you are unmarried, do not look for a wife. It is fine if you are married. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life. Time is short and this world in its present form is passing away.
An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs – how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world- how he can please his wife – and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this word – how she can please her husband. Paul’s purpose of saying these was for them to live in a right way with undivided devotion to the Lord.
Anyone engaged to a virgin should make up his mind whether to marry her or not. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. However, based on Paul’s judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is.
THOUGHTS:
Christians in Corinth were surrounded by sexual temptations. Sexual temptations are difficult to withstand because they appeal to the normal and natural desires that God has given us. Marriage provides God’s way to satisfy these natural sexual desires and to strengthen the partners against temptation. Married couples have the responsibility to care for each other. Therefore, husbands and wives should not withhold themselves sexually from one another but should fulfill each other’s needs and desires.
The Corinthian church believers were confused. Some Greeks, in rejecting immorality, rejected sex and marriage altogether. So they asked Paul many questions concerning this subject matter. Paul delivered these instructions for them to follow.
Spiritually, our bodies belong to God when we become Christians because Jesus Christ bought us by paying the price to release us from sin. Physically, our bodies belong to our spouses because God designed marriage so that through the union of husband and wife, the two become one. Paul stressed complete equality in sexual relationships. Neither male nor female should seek dominance or authority.
Both marriage and singleness are gifts from God. One is not morally better than the other, and both are valuable to accomplishing God’s purposes. Whether married or single, we must be content with our situation and focus on Christ to address our problems.
Some people in the Corinthian church thought they ought to divorce their pagan spouses and marry Christians. But Paul affirmed the marriage commitment. God’s ideal is for husbands and wives to stay together – even when one spouse is not a believer. The Christian spouse should try to win the other to Christ. Paul insisted to stay with the unbelieving spouse and be a positive influence on the marriage as marriage is permanent. But If the unbelieving spouse insists that the Christian spouse must deny his or her faith to preserve the marriage, Paul’s instruction is to let him or her go.
The single person does not have the responsibility of caring for a spouse and raising a family. He has more opportunity to serve Christ wholeheartedly. However, singleness does not ensure service to God. Involvement in service depends on the commitment of the individual.