1 Corinthians 7:29-31
This 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, and 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, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
Tag: Worldly Concerns Hinder Christian Purpose
Paul is in the middle of answering a question the Corinthian believer asked him about marriage and divorce. Paul has already taught them many truths in this passage, but one sure concern Paul had about marriage, divorce, being single, being a widow and remarriage, was how that all impacts the purpose we all have, as believers, in Christ. Paul, in the above passage, is outlining an overriding principle he wants every category to know: The concerns of this world can impact our focus. Paul makes it clear that those who are married have concerns to “please” their spouse. Those who are not married, do not have those same concerns. No matter our status, we need to make sure we understand that the time is short and our time on this earth is short. We can tell from the above passage that Paul was very much anticipating that Christ would return, soon. Because of that truth, that impacted Paul’s thoughts about marriage and/or remarriage. We have a purpose to fulfill, in Paul’s theology. He is not objecting to marriage, but he is giving us a warning that marriage does change the way we focus. It is interesting that he does not draw a conclusion based upon that truth. He leaves that up to the readers. What he does want all to know is that marriage is part of some people’s lives and that marriage can, at time, take our focus away from the things of the Lord. But, there are times when the things of the Lord should take us away from the things of marriage. In regard to sexual matters, note what he said earlier:
1 Corinthians 7:5
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Marriage and Christianity are not to be separated. But, marriage is to be understood via the lens of Christianity. God crated marriage. God created the church. There is harmony between both. But, focus can be lost in either.
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