1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Bloom where you’re planted ~ the unmarried

Open your Bible to…

1Cor. 7:25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

Pray

Intro

√ Bloom where you’re planted ~ the unmarried

Paul’s final word to the Corinthians with regard to marriage was directed to those who were not married!

Singles

Men ~ prospective grooms and fathers

Widows

His instructions are just as relative today as they were when he wrote them 2,000 years ago.

That’s because the vast majority of people do not want to be single and are actively looking for a spouse.

However, there were strong motivators in the 1^st Century that made it desirable to remain single so that a person could better serve the Lord.

Ap. Marriage

Paul’s instructions to the unmarried should remind us how serious a decision to marry is and that we need to spend a great deal of thought and prayer into making the decision to marry.

Singles (vs. 25-35)

1Cor. 7:25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

√ Singles

The next question that the believers in Corinth asked Paul about was what to do if you were unmarried and still a virgin!

Knowing what we do about the character of the Corinthian people it may have been a marvel to Paul that anyone was still a virgin in that city!

Something for the apostle to rejoice over that in that corrupt immoral city where sexual promiscuity was the norm that there were believers who where still sexually pure!

So, once again we find that Paul responds by sharing his advise, God inspired wisdom, rather than a direct revelation from God, note vs. 25…

“Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.”

That is, just as in the situation of a believer married to an unbeliever that Paul dealt with earlier in the chapter here is another issue that Jesus never addressed.

So, Paul gives his godly advise which is certainly worth heeding, as he was the Lord’s chosen minister to share God’s thoughts with us and was operating under the direction of the Spirit.

Well, following up on our two previous studies Paul continues in the same vein encouraging unmarried believers to remain single being content to…

Bloom where God had planted them.

He gives the Corinthians three reasons for his advise.

1) Because of persecution

1Cor. 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:

1Cor. 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

1Cor. 7:28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

The first reason Paul suggests that it would be beneficial to remain single is because of the rising persecution against Christians.

Ex. Nero’s persecution of the Church

Nero, the Emperor at the time of Paul’s writing, was the first Roman Emperor to officially target Christians for persecution.

Persecution had not yet begun, but the signs of trouble were all around.

In fact, later Paul and Peter would later be killed in the persecutions of Nero.

So, in view of the coming crisis Paul advised Christians to remain single so that they could face it without worrying about the impact it would have on a wife and children.

Ap. Not a general command of God

So, you singles can relax because Paul’s comments in vs. 26 is not a commandment of God to remain single as Paul makes clear in vs. 28…

“But even if you (a single man) do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin (single woman) marries, she has not sinned…”

Rather, as he says a the end of vs. 28 it was his desire to spare the believers any unnecessary heartache that might arise during persecution.

Ex. GFA native workers

2) Because the time is short

1Cor. 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

1Cor. 7:30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

1Cor. 7:31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

The second reason it was beneficial to remain unmarried was that in Paul’s estimation time was short!

That is, from Paul’s perspective (and the other apostles) it would only be a short time until Jesus returned to set up His kingdom on earth.

Therefore, Christians should focus their time, treasure, and talents on serving the Lord and not allow the things of the world (including marriage) keep them from serving the Lord.

Rather, Paul advises that they should focus on activities that have eternal value because the temporal things…

Building a home, gaining earthly possessions, even one’s emotional state ~ happy of sad, should not keep us from the work of the Lord for all of those things would soon pass away and be forgotten in glory.

Therefore it would be better according to Paul to invest one’s life in spiritual pursuits that will produce eternal benefits.

Ap. Time is short

The reality is that none of us know how much time we have here on earth!

Regardless of when the Lord will return we must not forget that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

As the Psalmist writes…

“So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” ~ Ps. 90:12

So, whether you’re married or unmarried use today to serve the Lord because the time is short.

3) Because of distractions

1Cor. 7:32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

1Cor. 7:33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

1Cor. 7:34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

1Cor. 7:35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

√ Because of distractions

Paul’s final reason why it is best for the unmarried believer to remain so builds on his previous comments but with specific attention to the responsibilities of marriage.

That is, a married person by necessity has a god-given responsibility to care for his or her spouse…

…and that can (will) distract one from his/her service to the Lord.

The reality is that when a person enters into marriage they take on a divine responsibility to their spouse.

The husband’s primary ministry from that point forward is to his wife ~ to minister to her as Christ loved the Church.

That’s why in the pastoral epistles it is a requirement for a man serving as an elder (pastor, teacher, elder) to have his home in order.

The same is true of the wife ~ her primary ministry before teaching a woman’s study, or feeding the poor, is to minister to her husband.

To do that properly will at times mean that a believer will not be available for other ministry opportunities, that’s why Paul writes in vs. 35…

“And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”

So, as Paul writes it is no sin to get married, but it would be easier to serve the Lord if not hindered by the distraction of a spouse.

Ap. Chose wisely

If you feel called to ministry make sure that you’re sure your future spouse is as sold out to the Lord as you are!

You don’t want to have to drag someone around for the rest of your life as you attempt to serve the Lord only to have your efforts undone by your spouse!

So chose wisely.

Ap. Virgins

Can I just say “praise the Lord” that so many of our young people today are committed to following God’s will for sexual purity!

I’m so impressed with the teens and young adults in our fellowship who are not ashamed to stand for the Lord and to follow His will for their lives.

More than that I’m excited for them because when they finally do get married they’ll have a better foundation for a successful marriage because they won’t bring a bunch of emotional and physical baggage into their marriage.

So, parents keep up the good work and let your kids know how proud of them you are.

Men (vs. 36-38)

1Cor. 7:36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

1Cor. 7:37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

1Cor. 7:38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

√ Men

This section is little muddled in the original language and provides Greek students and theologians with the opportunity to spend countless hours in spirited debate over to whom it was that Paul was writing!

The question debated is whether Paul was addressing young men who were engaged to marry a young woman…

…or whether he was writing to fathers of young woman who desired to marry.

The NIV, NLT and most modern translators have chosen to interpret Paul’s instructions as written to prospective grooms, thus vs. 36 in the NIV…

“If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.”

While the older translations such as the KJV, Geneva, and ASV, interpret Paul’s instructions as written to fathers of virgin daughters, thus vs. 36 in the 1901 ASV…

“But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemingly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.”

Nothing we’re going to resolve today so let’s look at both interpretations and see what wisdom there is for us today!

√ Prospective grooms

If Paul was writing to prospective grooms what he is telling them is this…

If you don’t need to be married (gift of self-control or celibacy) but your fiancée does want to marry and she is getting on in age…

…then either marry her or set her free of the engagement so that she still has time to fall in love and marry someone else.

In that way a man who saw the wisdom of Paul’s instructions to remain unmarried for the cause of Christ was free to follow his conscious and break off the engagement without guilt.

√ Fathers

If Paul was writing to fathers of virgin he’s reminding them to be sensitive to the needs of his daughter.

Fathers in the 1^st Century had great authority in their homes and in many cultures were responsible to securing husbands for his daughters.

Much like in Fiddler on a Roof!

So, what Paul is saying then is that if a father chose to follow his advise for the unmarried and to keep his virgin daughter at home rather than finding her a husband…

Then that was in Paul’s estimation the best course of action.

On the other hand, if a father had made such a decision but saw that it made his daughter unhappy…

Then it was okay (not sinful) to allow her to marry,

The bottom line is that each man (whether a prospective groom or a papa) was free to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit with regard to how to apply Paul’s advise for unmarried virgins.

Ap. Remember others

I think the application for our own lives is that Paul’s instructions should remind men (fathers of daughters and single guys)…

…to be very careful how we treat a sister in the Lord.

That is, be sure that when you make a decision that will effect your daughter, or the gal you’re dating…

…that you take into account her needs and feelings.

None of us live unto ourselves and as Christians we have the added responsibility to protect those who will be touched by the choices we make as we follow the Lord.

Ex. Going to the mission field

If you have older teens who have an established life here in the US, and a potential spouse…

…don’t drag them off to an island in the Amazon where the only prospective grooms are 3.5 feet tall!

Widows (vs. 39-40)

1Cor. 7:39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

1Cor. 7:40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

√ Widows

Paul’s final instruction to the unmarried was directed toward widows.

He reminds widows that they are free in the Lord to remarry because with the death of her husband she is no longer bound by the Law.

But, he adds his own godly counsel on how to apply that freedom, note the end of vs. 39…

“…she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.”

That is, if a widow is going to remarry then he encourages her to make sure it’s to a believer so that they will be equally yoked and able to serve the Lord together.

His point is that it would be foolish and spiritually unhealthy to marry someone who doesn’t share the faith.

Yet, Paul’s advise for widows is the same as he’d written to everyone else…

…better to remain single so that you can give your full attention and affection to the work of God.

Close

√ Bloom where you’re planted ~ the unmarried

Remember that marriage is the second most important decision you’ll ever make!

The first is giving your life to Jesus.

So, Paul’s instructions to the unmarried remind us to take advantage of our time as a single person to serve the Lord.

He also reminds us just how serious the marriage commitment is, as one single gal told us after she married and later divorced…

“It’s better to be single than married to the wrong person!”