Paul has been addressing issues regarding marriage and divorce. Today he ends the chapter with the last question about marriage – what about singlehood?
• Is it good to remain unmarried? Is staying single alright?
1 Cor 7:25-40 ESV
25Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
29This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
32I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Being single can be God’s blessing for some. Paul has already mentioned briefly in 7:6-9 that it is a gift of God.
• 6Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.
• 9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Paul elaborates further now in responding to a direct question about staying unmarried.
• In the next few paragraphs, he gives his reasons why singleness can be good.
• 7:26-28 he said “in view of the present distress” (26) and that he would like to spare them from “worldly troubles” in life (28) - THE PRESENT DISTRESS.
• 7:29-31 he said “the appointed time has grown very short” and ends with “for the present form of this world is passing away” – THE PASSING WORLD.
• 7:32-35 he said, “I want you to be free from anxieties” (32) and ends with “to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord” (35) – THE PRESSURES OF LIFE.
1. THE PRESENT DISTRESS
26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles [NIV face many troubles in this life], and I would spare you that.
We do not know exactly what distressful situation Paul was referring to.
• It could be some economic hardship the Corinthians were facing, or the difficulties they were facing as Christians in a paganistic environment in Corinth. It could also be the persecutions of Christians in general.
• But whatever that is, Paul says times are hard. And it makes good sense to stay single and not be weighed down by concerns for marriage and family.
2. THE PASSING WORLD
29This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short [NIV time is short]. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
Time is short and this world is passing away. Everything here is transitory. We know that because the Lord has already said it.
• Whatever we experience here on earth comes and goes, it will not stay forever.
• Paul uses a figure of speech to describe five experiences “as though they had” disappeared – wives gone, weeping passed, happy times disappeared, things you bought were gone, and whatever you do, nothing stayed.
• These are very random experiences but the common thread is that they will all pass away. This world and everything in it will pass away and the time to that end is short.
• Don’t be too attached to this world and live as if it will last forever.
3. THE PRESSURES OF LIFE
• 32I want you to be free from anxieties [NIV concern]. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. [NIV “but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”]
It would be better to face the anxieties of life without the added concerns for the things of the world, for your spouse or family, if you have children.
• “Your interests are not divided” (34) and “you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (NIV 35).
• In order words, with marriage, we can be “distracted” by more concerns other than the things of God.
Imagine Paul being married and with children, the situation would be different.
• It would be more difficult for him to take the long and difficult missionary trips (in the Book of Acts) without his thinking about the needs of his family back home.
• It would be impossible for them to come along with him and be exposed to the persecutions and dangers on the trips.
• In addition to ministry needs, Paul would have to be mindful of his responsibilities as a husband and father to his children.
An unmarried person would be freed from such anxieties and concerns, Paul explains.
• “It is good to remain single, as I am” (7:8) because then he or she would be able to give undivided devotion to the Lord.
• Of course, staying single does not automatically mean one will be devoted to Christ, but it provides the opportunity and time to do so.
• Being married will surely mean you are more divided.
Paul was careful not to state this as a command or a rule.
• 7:25 25Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
• 7:28 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
• 7:36 36If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry — it is no sin.
Marriage is still a perfectly fine option, it is no sin. Both options – to marry or not to marry - are equally open to them.
• Paul encourages them to consider seriously the options because the single life can be the better option (38) if that’s God’s gift to them.
• They can devote their time and singlehood to serving God wholeheartedly.
Both options pose their own set of challenges, so weigh your options carefully.
• You can choose to “stay out” of marriage now (if you are single) but once you are married, there is no “getting out” of marriage.
• You have to take up the responsibilities of caring for your spouse and children.
7:37-38 37But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control [NIV under no compulsion but has control over his own will], and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.
38So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
• Decide carefully before marriage, and stay faithful to your spouse once you are married.
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Finally, Paul concludes the whole discussion with a final word to the widows.
• He has spoken to the married, to those considering divorce, to those in mixed marriages where a partner is not a Christian, to the singles and the benefits of remaining single, and now, Paul turns to the only category that is left - the widows.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
• It is a counsel that Paul believes come from God, for the same reasons he has outlined above, so that she can be devoted to serving the Lord.
• If her partner dies, she is free to marry again, but only to another Christian, in obedience to God and to avoid the challenges of a mixed marriage.
“She is free” only upon the passing of her spouse. Marriage is a relationship we enter into without an exit door. We are bound to our partner until death separates us.
• We enter marriage with that commitment. Those who are married must consider themselves bound to their partner until death separates them.
• This is God’s design and the blessings of marriage.
Singlehood can also be God’s blessing in ways that Paul has outlined to us today.
• Both options can be God’s will for us and they are perfectly good alternatives.
• Paul is not pitting one against another but urging the Corinthians to weigh their options carefully. Think hard before you marry.
• While “getting out” of a marriage is not an option; “staying out” is, for those who are single. So consider carefully. Seek God for wisdom and let Him guide you.
LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS THOUGHT:
One perspective of Paul that is noteworthy in this entire chapter - whether he is talking about marriage, divorce, mixed marriage or singlehood - is his desire to fulfil the purposes of God in all of these different settings.
• Our choices are not to be made on the basis of what “feels good”, “what we like”, or “what makes me happy”, but on what pleases God and can further His Kingdom.
• Even singleness is discussed in the light of our devotion to God, not self-interest.
• Not so much about my welfare (which is perfectly fine), but the fulfilment of God’s purposes in our lives.
• What can we do, in the place that God has put us so that His will can be done and His purposes fulfilled? That’s the underlining principle!
Whether we are in a marriage, a broken one, a mixed marriage, or being single today, whatever the status, God wants to work through us to fulfil His will.
• We are still God’s agents of change and blessings for our marriage and family.
Listen to what Paul said of King David in Acts 13 when he preached to the Jewish crowd at Antioch in Pisidia:
• “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers…” (Acts 13:36)
• David messed up his marriage and failed in his responsibilities in many ways but ultimately, the Lord said of him (quoted by Paul in the same sermon),
• “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22, cf. 1 Sam 13:14)
After all the smoke and dust of the journey of life has settled, the question we have to ask is: “Have we served God’s purpose in our generation?”
Eph 5:15-17 (NIV) “15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph 5:15-17 NIV)
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the plans and purposes You have for us all, married and unmarried. Whatever the station of our life we are in, we acknowledge Your goodness and grace. Thank you for your presence and your blessings.
Help us honour You with all that you have blessed us with. May we live to do Your will and glorify Your Name.
Bless all our marriages and families here, and let us be the best we can be for you. This we pray in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
You can listen to the audio sermon with slides at https://youtu.be/zNi6euw4OFA
Earlier audio sermons are available at https://tinyurl.com/KTCC-EnglishService
