As we wrap up our study of chapter 7, let’s remind ourselves of what Paul is not saying. He’s not saying it’s bad to be married or even to get married. He’s also not saying all Christians should stay or become single. He’s simply pointing out what it means to be faithfully obedient in specific life stages.
It’s easy to idolize another life stage. We can make romantic relationships a kind of god. We can make singleness god. As we’ve discussed through this week’s study, the goal of every Christian should be to live well— to obey—wherever God has placed us. That means choosing celibacy if we’re single. It means caring for our spouse if we’re married. It means longing for eternity instead of obsessing over a different relationship status.
To finish off this week, we’re going to spend some time talking to God after reading the final verses
32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
36 But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. 37 But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. 38 So the person who marries his fiancée does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord. 40 But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.
(NLT)
Here are the suggestions for your prayer time with God today:
Start off with some honest talk about the life stage you’re in right now.
Are you happy with it?
Are you frustrated with God? What would you prefer instead?
Now tell him what you expect from relationships—whether it’s security, comfort, or companionship.
Ask God to show you if you’re being selfish with your relationships. Confess anything he brings up.
End your time in prayer by asking God to show you one way you can live out this passage in your life this week.
What is that “one way you can live out this passage in your life this week“? Come back to it in a few days and see about how trying it out went for you.
Text your response to the above prompting questions to your group and/or share it as a comment below
The one way I would live out this life is to find my calling from God first. So that I can make sure that my main focus is on God. If God requires my full attention. Then I will no even start a relationship with anyone. Because Like Paul said it is hard to focus on God’s calling and your partner.
I think I can live out this passage by doing my best to be content in whatever situation that God has put me in. Sometimes it can be hard because we are always looking at the grass being greener on the other side. I’ve come to learn from God that the best way to embrace an uncomfortable situation or if we are wanting something that may not necessarily be God’s Will, it is best to see what God is trying to teach me through this phase in my life. Even being able to look back and see that God has placed me in a certain place for a reason, I can still find myself not content in a specific circumstance. I pray that God would continue to help me be content in whatever situation that I am in and to continue guiding my steps.
One way I can live out this passage throughout this weekend is to be more intentional with the friendships I have with others and more intentional with my time with God. Being busy and sleep deprived most of the week makes me forget that I have the relationships in my life that I can lean on and spend time with as a way to wind down from my hectic schedule. It also makes me forget that God wants us to see us rest and it’s not always a bad thing to change up my agenda to make time for others.