Encouragment to the Celibate or Single
You know I so often find Paul making comments that just make me laugh. I really like the way Paul emphasizes some things. Like where he encourages other to imitate of boast in him. I think this one make me laugh the most truly. I will highlight what I think is so funny.
1Co 7:28 (ESV) “But 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.”
I love the what Paul says about having a wife, and I think it is even more funny he says I would spare you that. I will have to agree with Paul about the women, I think women are a lot of trouble. They want all of your time, not to say all I emphasize all of your money. LOL. I am glad that Paul put this warning in to help remind us single guys of women, and to spare us of all that trouble. Keeps life so much simpler.
Well Paul is not specifically talking about women, but about the whole marriage situation period. How that if you are married you have to care for your wife and your wife for you, and you will have to please each other and nurture the relationship constantly. Me I am one of the lucky few, for how long I can’t really tell, hopefully for a long time. I can’t be bothered with women, to much trouble. I can take my time in the evening and study the things of the Lord more fully and for as long as I please, then go to bed or do something else. No one governing my time, I am free pretty much to do as I please.
1Co 7:34-35 (ESV) “And 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. I 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.”
I think Paul confirms my point, that a married mans interest are divided between his wife and the Lord, while the virgin or unmarried can give undivided attention to the Lord. That is where I am at, and I think I would truly like to stay there, but if the right one comes along. I will have to divide my time, and wisely. I won’t rule out the possibility at all.
If you are single, I would encourage you to use the time of your singleness wisely and give Christ your undivided attention and devotion. Learn to understand that intimacy with God first and complete and total love and devotion to the Lord, then persue a relationship. I often think if I could learn how to love the Lord completely, then how easy would it be to love a wife whom I can see and touch with my hands. I encourage you to grow.
This was my small little thought on some of the funnier parts of the bible, or at least as I see it. Nothing really profound.
God bless.
1Co 7:28 (ESV) “But 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.”
I love the what Paul says about having a wife, and I think it is even more funny he says I would spare you that. I will have to agree with Paul about the women, I think women are a lot of trouble. They want all of your time, not to say all I emphasize all of your money. LOL. I am glad that Paul put this warning in to help remind us single guys of women, and to spare us of all that trouble. Keeps life so much simpler.
Well Paul is not specifically talking about women, but about the whole marriage situation period. How that if you are married you have to care for your wife and your wife for you, and you will have to please each other and nurture the relationship constantly. Me I am one of the lucky few, for how long I can’t really tell, hopefully for a long time. I can’t be bothered with women, to much trouble. I can take my time in the evening and study the things of the Lord more fully and for as long as I please, then go to bed or do something else. No one governing my time, I am free pretty much to do as I please.
1Co 7:34-35 (ESV) “And 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. I 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.”
I think Paul confirms my point, that a married mans interest are divided between his wife and the Lord, while the virgin or unmarried can give undivided attention to the Lord. That is where I am at, and I think I would truly like to stay there, but if the right one comes along. I will have to divide my time, and wisely. I won’t rule out the possibility at all.
If you are single, I would encourage you to use the time of your singleness wisely and give Christ your undivided attention and devotion. Learn to understand that intimacy with God first and complete and total love and devotion to the Lord, then persue a relationship. I often think if I could learn how to love the Lord completely, then how easy would it be to love a wife whom I can see and touch with my hands. I encourage you to grow.
This was my small little thought on some of the funnier parts of the bible, or at least as I see it. Nothing really profound.
God bless.
posted by James | 11:55 AM
1 Comments:
Keep in mind, James, that when Paul speaks in this chapter, it is instructions given in a certain historical context. here's a verse out of that chapter where he gives us a clue about that:
1 Cor. 7:26 (ESV)
I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
Paul foresees a crisis coming (maybe already present) which will put much stress both on the church and on the families to whom he is giving instruction. That crisis is probably Roman state persecution.
If you were contemplating marriage and I knew that you might be facing persecution for your faith in the near future I would probably give the same advice.
So while a wife can certainly cause one to have 'worldly troubles,' Paul's not necessarily saying that's the norm.
What would you do if they took your wife and told you they were going to torture and kill her unless you renounced Christ? It has happened before. I think that Paul knows these people may be facing things like that soon.
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