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1 Corinthians 7:25-28
The Apostle Paul has given instruction for marriage and the sexual gift to marriage from God (1 Corinthians 6:15-7:16). Paul has given this instruction as the Corinthians were living in sexual freedom as to not be committed to just one sexual partner in marriage. In 1 Corinthians 7:25-28 Paul addresses yet another level of this commitment in sexual desires and marriage. His instructions are for virgins, and that instruction is to remain as such as to not involve oneself in the temptations of sexual desires. He knows that committing oneself to God individually will have less temptations to stray if sexual desires are controlled and eliminated from the equation. However, he instructs not from a commandment but from his own experience. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7:28 (NKJV), “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.
This is a command to be dedicated to God in marriage and out of marriage.
In the Apostle Paul’s dramatic conversion experience and the power that God placed on his life, he has committed himself to the preaching of the gospel with a new-found dedication that was very powerful and direct in God’s calling on his life. It seems that in this dedication (as he was the first to preach the gospel to the gentiles) was a level of obedience and dedication that few have felt in conversion as each has his or her own conversion experience and calling from God as directed to the purpose God puts on their life. Paul saw marriage and the dedication and commitment to it as a possible distraction from God as its requirements require obedience to one another. But God’s intention of marriage is to show the type of commitment to one another that is representative of the commitment and obedience that we are to have with God in our salvation through believing in Christ Jesus. Paul knew this and is reflective of his instructions in 1 Corinthians 7:17 as he declares, “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.” God made woman to be man’s companion in physical life (Genesis 2:21-24); it is following God’s plan in marriage that makes it work properly in the eyes of God. To be married or to remain single is not the dilemma, but to remain dedicated to God in each.
Dear LORD,
Thank you for the gift of marriage in having a companion in this physical life that is to be representative of the dedication and commitment of our relationship with You through our salvation in Christ Jesus. Please help us to realize and understand that whether we remain single or are married, it is the commitment and dedication to You that makes our lives successful – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.