[:en]MARRIAGE (vs. 1-40)
Sexual temptations are difficult to withstand so that God provides marriage as a way to satisfy these natural sexual desires. Married couples should not withold themselves sexually from one another. They should fulfill each others need and desire.
The Corinthian Christians asked Paul many questions: “If my spouse is unsaved, should I seek a divorce? Should unmarried people and widows remain unmarried? Paul’s response is: “For now, stay put. Be content in the situation where God has placed you. If you are married, don’t seek to be single. If you are single, don’t seek to be married. Live one day at a time and God will show you the way.
Christians are bought by Chirst with His blood. We belong to God spiritually but our physical bodies belong to our spouses. Through the union of marriage, the two became one. There should be equality in sexual relationship.
Both marriage and singleness are gifts from God. Those unmarried can devote themselves completely to God’s ministry because they do not have the added concerns of a spouse and family. But both are valuable to accomplish God’s purposes.
To the unmarried and the widows, Paul said: “It is good for them to stay unmaried as he was. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (vs. 8-9)
“To the married, a wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be recondiled to her husband. and a husband must not divorce his wife” (vs. 101-11)
Paul told the Corinthian Christians to marry the right person than to “burn with lust”. Engaged couples should not frustrate their normal sexual desires by avoiding marriage.
Some Christians in Corinthian church thought that they should divorce their pagan spouse and marry Christians in order to serve Christ. But Paul affirmed the marriage commitment for husbands and wives to stay together even when one spouse is not a believer. The believing spouse should try to win the other to Christ and make the marriage work. But if the unbelieving spouse insists on leaving, let him or her go.
If you become a Christian aftter mariage and your spouse is not a believer, you can still do God’s work and demonstrate your faith. You don’t have to be married to a Christian to live for Christ.
Before Christ came, circumcision was commanded by God to those who want to follow Him. But after Christ’s death, circucision is no longer necessary. Pleasing God and obeying Him are more important than observing traditional ceremonies.
When you become a Christian, you should continue on with the work you have been doing provided it is not immoral or unethical. Take every opportunity to honor, serve and speak for Christ where God has placed you.
As slavery was common in the Roman Empire, some Corithian Christians were slaves. Paul said that although they were slaves to human being but they were no longer slaves to sin. If we commit our lives to Christ, we are free from the power of sins. We become Christ’s slaves and have freedom over sins.
During Paul’s time, he saw the impending persecution of the Roman government upon Christians. So he gave them advice to remain unmaarried to have more freedom for the cause of Christ.
Maried life is not free from conflicts and problems It is the commitment that holds two together. Couples must be contented with their situation and focus on Christ to help address their problems.
Paul said” “Time is short”. So there is an urgency to preach the Good News to all men. He urged the Christians not to live by the cares of earthly responsibility that keep them from doing God’s work.
According to Paul, remaining single has one advantage – the freedom to focus in Christ and His work and serve Christ wholeheartedly. However, being single does not ensure service to God. It depends upon the commitment of the individual to God. A married woman who lost her husband is free to marry someone who belong to the Lord.
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