Sense of Direction
Opening Prayer
Whatever your marital status, pray for God’s help to put him before all others.
Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
[25] Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. [26] Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. [27] Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. [28] But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. [29] What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; [30] those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; [31] those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. [32] I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs-how he can please the Lord. [33] But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world-how he can please his wife- [34] and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world-how she can please her husband. [35] I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. [36] If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. [37] But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin-this man also does the right thing. [38] So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better. [39] A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. [40] In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is-and I think that I too have the Spirit of God. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is Paul's advice to single and engaged people?The apostle offers advice, drawn from his own experience, to those who are not married, both males (27) and females (25). It’s simple. Don’t get distracted by spending your time looking for a partner, despite peer pressure to conform. For Paul, there was a crisis facing the church (26), and dealing with this was more important than fulfilling one’s personal desires. It is important to understand that Paul was not denigrating marriage (28). Rather, he was helping the congregation to refocus on the reality that God and his kingdom come first, particularly when time is short. So it was, for him, a question of priorities. Accordingly, it is important to “deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you” (31, The Message). It is about regaining our spiritual sense of direction, whether that is in the big life choices, such as marriage, or in the many other choices we make on a daily basis. In all we do, we need to retain an “undivided devotion to the Lord” (35).
Apply
What things (and not necessarily bad things but good things) tend to distract you from devotion to the Lord?
Closing prayer
Lord, grant me wisdom in all my decisions and strength in all my activities, so that I may always focus on You.
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