The Fifth Question

11.10.12

1 Corinthians 7.32-35 32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. NASB

If there was one thing the Apostle Paul did, it was effectively reason through a matter – like marriage. There is some speculation that Paul may have been married at one point in his life but the Scripture is quiet about that fact. However, Paul if nothing else was ‘married’ to Jesus (verse 35 above) – Paul understood that the relationship between a man and God is not all that different from a man and a wife.

Paul would have advocated this: the most important thing a man can do is to know God, love Him, and serve Him in unbroken fellowship all the days of his earthly journey. And so, because of Paul’s position, he would also advocate every advantage for the person who believed the most important thing a man could do is to know God, love Him, and serve Him in unbroken fellowship. But Paul also held that it is not a sin, nor displeasing to God, for folks to marry.

Paul’s biggest concern was: married or not, how is your devotion to God? He seemed to maintain that the unmarried had a slight advantage over the married, but nowhere does he say if you’re married, become unmarried.

Recently a friend of mine posited four questions: 1. Who is God? 2. Who am I? 3. What really matters? And 4, how much is enough? Another friend of mine posited (what I think may be) the fifth question: What are you going to do about it? Married or single isn’t the issue: what are you going to do about God, yourself, what matters, and how much is enough? That is really the issue.

Paul said, I want you to be free from concern: i.e. unnecessary distractions from the four questions. But the question isn’t marriage; that is a side-bar; the issue is devotion to God and what we’re going to do about it. You can do what is necessary in devoting yourself to God regardless of whether you’re married or not. God isn’t some jealous lover, and your spouse (if there is one) doesn’t need to be either.

What are we going to do about God, our selves, the really important, and our capacities? Depend on God regardless. God isn’t surprised by our choices and can work out His will within them: married or single. Paul was speaking (writing) to a group of people who were trying to figure these things out and Paul arrived always at this: whoever you are: know God, love God, and serve God with all of your capacity in whatever capacity you find yourself. God can work with you – will you work with Him?

Father, use me just as I am to do just what You ask. Thank You for marriage and my wife…