God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, March 18th, 2012
1 Corinthians 7:25-40[1]
25 Now 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. (1 Tim 1:12)
26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 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.
29 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,
30 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,
31 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.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
34 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.
35 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.
36 If 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.
37 But 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.
38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
39 A 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.
40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Here is the message for this week: We are instructed to manage our lives during stressful times in such a way as to stay fully devoted to the Lord.
Paul's authority to teach: this is indeed from God, and inspired by God. He was sent by Christ, 1 Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
Paul's instruction is to young betrothed (engaged), and to widows.
Paul's purpose in this instruction: to secure our undivided devotion to the Lord, in a difficult time for the church.
"In view of the present distress", and "the appointed time has grown short". Is the apostle telling them to sell their goods, share the gospel and wait outside for the return of Christ? No, not exactly; there is too much instruction in this book which involves continuing on in life here – on marriage, morality, collections for the poor, travel plans, what to eat at dinner, etc[2]. Not any more than Jesus taught against having children…
V 26, "in view of this present distress" Matt 24:19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Luke 23:28-29 But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Jesus is not saying having children is against God's will; He is warning Israel that during Titus' destruction of Jerusalem it will be very, very difficult.
What Paul evidently saw was a time of persecution then, or soon coming to the church in Corinth, and he wanted them to consider life in light of such things. Did he believe the Lord was returning soon? Yes! So did Peter and John.
Present form of this world: this world is ever changing, and it is not generally improving. We are wise, as believers, to remember that. Eternal things trump temporal things. Always. Hold in your hands loosely the things of this world, lest they get too firm a place in our hearts. These hearts must be set on things above.
This is addressed to potential husbands, not fathers of potential brides. Betrothed are young couples who have been set apart to one another, and Paul speaks to the young man. He is not speaking to the fathers. Here's why:
- The context of this section is marriage, not parenting
- The immediate context is to those who either marry or remain single, and
- The concession to marry if you can't exercise self-control would only apply to potential husbands, not fathers
- The logic of giving your daughter away now that she is past the flower of her youth doesn't make sense; it would make sense if it were she were TO the flower of her youth
Therefore the phrase (word, hyperakmos) in verse 36 which is translated in some versions, "if she is past the flower of her youth" is better translated as, "if his passions are strong".
HOWEVER: if it was to fathers, the same teaching applies; in light of this present distress, we must secure undivided devotion to the Lord.
Paul is consistent in his teaching to the church that it is easier, during times of distress, to serve Christ single than married. He commends singleness but also acknowledges that few have that gift, and most should marry.
What is taught about singleness? It is easier to serve Christ and live sacrificial when single.
What is inferred about marriage? That you must seek to please and care for the one you are married to. This is not an ungodly distraction; it can be done 'as unto the Lord', as Paul teaches in other places. It is good to be married! Let me share this story to help you understand how Paul is thinking…
On January 25th, 1544, James Rauleson, along with three other men and his wife, were accused by friars in Scotland of heresy against the church deserving death. They were brought before Archbishop David Beaton. Rauleson was accused of mocking the cardinal's hat; he had built a house and on the fourth stair he had carved a three-crowned diadem of Peter. His wife, Helen Stark, was accused of not calling on the Virgin Mary during childbirth; she had only called to God through Jesus Christ. They were also accused of eating goose on all-hallows-eve.
The men were bound and beaten, with Helen begging to be bound and beaten with them; she was not allowed. She cried out to James, "Husband rejoice, for we have lived together many joyful days; but this day we must die should be most joyful to us both, because we must have joy together forever… in the Kingdom of God." Then men were taken to the place of execution and, while calling upon the Lord and encouraging one another that they would join the Lord for supper in His kingdom, they were killed, with Helen begging to be killed alongside her husband.
After the men died, the friars took Helen to be drowned, with a baby nursing at her breast. When they arrived at the water she commended her children to good people in the town, she sealed up the truth by her death.[3]
How hard it must be to watch your spouse suffer for his or her faith! And yet, God gives grace for such – when it comes, not before.
What is taught to widows?
First that marriage among believers (v 10) is to the death.
Second is that they could stay single and serve Christ; but in every passage Paul reiterates – marriage is fine, it is good. He gives the bottom line…
We are instructed to manage our lives during stressful times in such a way as to stay fully devoted to the Lord.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
[2] From footnotes in The ESV Study Bible, Copyright © 2001-2012 Crossway. All rights reserved.
[3] From chapter 10, "The Martyrs of Scotland", in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, published by Whitaker House, Springdale, PA. Copyright © Whitaker House 1981.
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