I Corinthians 7:25-31 - Appraise life rightly

In verse 25 Paul addressed the issue of single ladies who were still under the authority of their fathers. Paul did not claim that it’s a commandment of the Lord but just his honest judgment on this matter.  As a steward who was deemed trustworthy by the Lord, he felt the necessity to give his judgment on the issue. In verse 26 Paul talked about a present crisis which the Corinthian were probably well acquainted with but he did not tell us what it was. Apparently the crisis was creating hardship for them. This crisis could have both financial and social implications. Paul could also be referring to the fractured fellowship they were facing. The church was probably thrown into much discord and disagreement. When this happened, families of the church were at ought with each other. In light of the hardship that had troubled the church from within and without, Paul advised the single ladies to remain unmarried.

 

Paul maintained that a change in marital status would not alter the external circumstances. There would be the married, who thought that a divorce would relieve their stress. Then there would be those singles who felt that marriage would be the answer. Here Paul was seeking to help them stay focused. Whether remaining single or seeking marriage, the external stress would not disappear. He was trying to help them see that to spend one’s energy in pursuit of a temporary change could cause one to get out of focus. Hence that person might lose sight of the critical matter which is spiritual. In verse 28 Paul was seeking to help them stay balanced and not read his statement out of context. So he wanted them to know that staying single did not make one more spiritual and it was not immoral to want to get married.      

 

In talking about the shortness of time, Paul wasn’t referring to the end-time but rather the crisis that the Corinthian were experiencing. Everything in life is not permanent but temporary. In that sense time would be short. What did Paul mean when he said, “From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none…”? He was not advocating a life of celibacy. Neither was he asking husbands to deny or neglect their wives. He wanted them to see that there was more to life than just their marriages. So they should set their minds beyond marriage as well.

 

Paul went on to assure them that not only would the crisis be short but earthly life was also short. Paul’s point is this: nothing in this earthly life stays permanent. Everything would pass away – grief, joy, dealings in life and even marriages.  If they are so temporary why place hope on them. He wanted to spare them the agony of the devastation of an unfulfilled hope. This world would pass away Paul said. So everything relating to time, marriage, grief, joy, singleness, etc. would be gone, so don’t get hooked on it!

 

This is a call to set our eyes and minds on the things above. When we have a heavenly mindset we have a better appraisal of things. We won’t place undue importance on things that are not eternal. Therefore our spiritual status should not be determined by marriage or celibacy, joy or sadness, and riches or poverty.