I feel like Paul’s bias seeped in in this chapter. He seems to think marriage is just a thing to fence in sexual pleasure… but the God has said that marriage is a picture of the unity of God and his children. He makes points at occasion, but I couldn’t help but snort a bit as I read that he thought it better that no one get married. It goes to show that we shouldn’t make the mistake of taking everything Paul says as the direct word of God, because it IS man that God is using, and men are fallible. I wish I could tell Paul how powerful a couple following the Lord can be versus one man or woman alone!
They can be but they also can not be. And be careful because I don’t believe we are to separate any of the Bible and pick and choose and dismiss what we don’t like. What Paul is saying is very accurate. He’s not saying that as a single person you wouldn’t work with other people to further the kingdom but when you’re married people are certainly divided. You can’t force anyone to be on the same page with God and you certainly can’t force someone to listen to God or do the right thing. He was simply stating that if a person was able to do so without sinning that staying single and being just God and that individual is more powerful because he is there only lover. There only source. Their only everything. The person you go to for everything. He wasn’t saying a married couple isn’t powerful. Just that being just a single person being fulfilled by God alone can be even more so because they are undivided ☺️
Be careful about reading the bible as though it is just a collection of letters written by men with their own biases. They certainly have their own style, but God is the author of every sentence and He would not let a single word be written in His book that He did not inspire. God is completely and infallibly sovereign over His Word and we are called to submit to Him whether or not we feel it agrees with our own narratives.
Currently living the life I am intended to live. It is not where I imagined myself but after reading 1 Corinthians 7, I am where I am supposed to be. Living the life and on the path that has been set for me. I always trust God’s timing. It is perfect and I’ve learned not to question it. Just to live.
Judges 2:15 Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.
The Israelites abandoned God and conformed to the people of the land and their ways, and even tho in the end God did rescue them and deliver them from the enemy, he still made them suffer. I’m so thankful that today because God sent his son to die for our sins, he is a God that forgives without punishment. We’ll still suffer the natural consequences that come with sin, but our God is a god who forgives and welcomes us back with open arms instantly when we turn to him; he doesn’t wait to punish us first.
These chapters and verses are also a reminder to always love and serve God and walk in his ways while keeping his commandments. the Israelites called out to God when they were suffering but after they were saved 3:7 “The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God”. In life I find that it’s easy for me to turn to prayer and ask God to guide me when I’m going through a difficult time, but like the Israelites, when things are going well, it’s so easy to forget that it’s all thanks to Him and his grace. And in this life I know sin is inevitable, but I am so thankful that I have a God who forgives and is there to bring us out of the worst of times, like we have seen him do countless times for Israel. I pray that in the here and now and everyday moving forward I lift everything up to God, in both the good and bad times and that I never take for granted his presence in my life. By living to serve God I hope to become more grateful and content with all that he has blessed me with and to never forget that I would be nothing without Him.
It’s so humbling to read about the all the shortcomings of the Israelites. Their lack of faith and trust in God prompts eye-rolls and “come on, guys! Really?!” And yet, I think it’s so upsetting because I know I have identified with them. I’ve tried to do things of my own strength or knowledge, and I’ve surrendered myself to things of this world I.e. How I look, what others think, etc. we have so many modern day idols that try to disguise themselves as necessity. Seeing how God still intervenes on their behalf when called upon reveals so much about His heart. It’s so amazing the love He has for us, and I’m so thankful that when I call upon Him, He is there. Praise the Lord!! What a faithful Friend we have in our Father.
About marriage, in the 21st century especially, I think it’s almost programmed into us by society that if you’re single something must be wrong with you, or that it’s embarrassing to be single for too long, etc. and if you are single, society only justifies it as being “okay” if you’re being selfish, sleeping around, and in reality abusing relationships with many people. And I think the enemy has created that method of thinking because a single soul wholly dedicated to Christ is a dangerous weapon. I’m 22, and if God wants me to get married, I’ll be thrilled because I think I’d love it. But what i want a thousand times more, is to wholly serve my King. As if there aren’t too many distractions as is!! I think God definitely brings couples together for the Kingdom, Paul just stresses singleness can be a blessing for those who are called to do things for the Kingdom that having a spouse might inhibit. The disciples, and many others included Jesus himself remained single all their lives, and I think they lived life to the absolute fullest!
God loves marriage when He initiates it, and God loves singleness when He initiates it. All that matters is that you seek Him first in whatever relationship status you are to hold.
Lauren – I appreciate you saying “when He initiates it.” I struggle with my attitude towards marriage and singleness. But I find that pursuing Christ first helps to put the two states in their proper place: second to God. Mandy Dobbelmann in her blog Forte e Bella writes, “From the moment we claim the truth of being the Beloved, we are faced with the call to become who we are.’” That is our call in this life; that is our aim. Not just marriage, or children, or the perfect job, success, or fame but simply to discover what it means to be the Beloved of God and live our whole lives there.” Thanks for sharing your heart, Lauren.
For everyone who is doing the plan this year, congrats, we are one third of the way through! This is a great time to reflect on how God has changed our hearts through committing to read the Bible in a year. For me, the lord has led to me connect more with my husband spiritually and not make devotionals a solitary activity. I got us the Proverbs plan that just came out to do together! I would love to hear how others hearts have been changed.
Stephanie, thanks for prompting us to comment! I’m so glad to have joined in this year’s Bible in a year plan. I have to admit some books so far have been difficult to read, but God’s grace and everyone’s comments on here really help me. The Lord has led me through this plan to develop a love, hunger, and thirst for his word as I have never experienced before. I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, but I’ve never enjoyed reading the word so much as now. Everyday I look forward to spending time in the word, with the Lord and in prayer. This year has been particularly hard for me, but God’s word has a way of always helping me set my eyes on Christ and not on my circumstances.
Melisa, I encourage you to try the Message version, it was a game changer for me. It is very, very easy to understand. It’s a great reading version of the Bible.
1 Corinthians 7:23-24
•these verses remind us that God doesn’t want us to change – He wants us as we are.
1 Corinthians 7:35 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.
•Paul also reminds us that we are to dedicate our lives to the glory of the Lord. It is easy to get caught up in “anxieties” and “worldly things” (v.32-33), but God calls us to live for something more: His glory and peace.
38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
This reading confuses me. It seems like he is saying that it’s easier to not get married (and maybe looked higher upon). But God wants for us to not be alone. I’m confused what he’s getting at here.
I think Paul is telling us that in this world there are so many distractions and one of them is being married to someone. If we are so occupied with our husband then we lose focus on working for the Kingdom of God. But Paul says that because of the present time, wherein immorality is high, if you cannot control your lust or yourself then it is wiser for us to get married BUT we must not forget that we too need to serve God, not only our spouse.
So in that verse 38, he might (I’m not sure with my interpretation) be saying that the man who does not marry can focus more on God’s Kingdom…no other distractions.
I feel like Paul’s bias seeped in in this chapter. He seems to think marriage is just a thing to fence in sexual pleasure… but the God has said that marriage is a picture of the unity of God and his children. He makes points at occasion, but I couldn’t help but snort a bit as I read that he thought it better that no one get married. It goes to show that we shouldn’t make the mistake of taking everything Paul says as the direct word of God, because it IS man that God is using, and men are fallible. I wish I could tell Paul how powerful a couple following the Lord can be versus one man or woman alone!
I COMPLETELY agree!
They can be but they also can not be. And be careful because I don’t believe we are to separate any of the Bible and pick and choose and dismiss what we don’t like. What Paul is saying is very accurate. He’s not saying that as a single person you wouldn’t work with other people to further the kingdom but when you’re married people are certainly divided. You can’t force anyone to be on the same page with God and you certainly can’t force someone to listen to God or do the right thing. He was simply stating that if a person was able to do so without sinning that staying single and being just God and that individual is more powerful because he is there only lover. There only source. Their only everything. The person you go to for everything. He wasn’t saying a married couple isn’t powerful. Just that being just a single person being fulfilled by God alone can be even more so because they are undivided ☺️
Thank you for explaining it more in detail.
Be careful about reading the bible as though it is just a collection of letters written by men with their own biases. They certainly have their own style, but God is the author of every sentence and He would not let a single word be written in His book that He did not inspire. God is completely and infallibly sovereign over His Word and we are called to submit to Him whether or not we feel it agrees with our own narratives.
The story of Ehud is one of my favorite hidden gems in the Bible. It’s like a little comedy in there that only God could orchestrate. Hilarious!
Currently living the life I am intended to live. It is not where I imagined myself but after reading 1 Corinthians 7, I am where I am supposed to be. Living the life and on the path that has been set for me. I always trust God’s timing. It is perfect and I’ve learned not to question it. Just to live.
Judges 2:15 Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.
The Israelites abandoned God and conformed to the people of the land and their ways, and even tho in the end God did rescue them and deliver them from the enemy, he still made them suffer. I’m so thankful that today because God sent his son to die for our sins, he is a God that forgives without punishment. We’ll still suffer the natural consequences that come with sin, but our God is a god who forgives and welcomes us back with open arms instantly when we turn to him; he doesn’t wait to punish us first.
These chapters and verses are also a reminder to always love and serve God and walk in his ways while keeping his commandments. the Israelites called out to God when they were suffering but after they were saved 3:7 “The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God”. In life I find that it’s easy for me to turn to prayer and ask God to guide me when I’m going through a difficult time, but like the Israelites, when things are going well, it’s so easy to forget that it’s all thanks to Him and his grace. And in this life I know sin is inevitable, but I am so thankful that I have a God who forgives and is there to bring us out of the worst of times, like we have seen him do countless times for Israel. I pray that in the here and now and everyday moving forward I lift everything up to God, in both the good and bad times and that I never take for granted his presence in my life. By living to serve God I hope to become more grateful and content with all that he has blessed me with and to never forget that I would be nothing without Him.
It’s so humbling to read about the all the shortcomings of the Israelites. Their lack of faith and trust in God prompts eye-rolls and “come on, guys! Really?!” And yet, I think it’s so upsetting because I know I have identified with them. I’ve tried to do things of my own strength or knowledge, and I’ve surrendered myself to things of this world I.e. How I look, what others think, etc. we have so many modern day idols that try to disguise themselves as necessity. Seeing how God still intervenes on their behalf when called upon reveals so much about His heart. It’s so amazing the love He has for us, and I’m so thankful that when I call upon Him, He is there. Praise the Lord!! What a faithful Friend we have in our Father.
About marriage, in the 21st century especially, I think it’s almost programmed into us by society that if you’re single something must be wrong with you, or that it’s embarrassing to be single for too long, etc. and if you are single, society only justifies it as being “okay” if you’re being selfish, sleeping around, and in reality abusing relationships with many people. And I think the enemy has created that method of thinking because a single soul wholly dedicated to Christ is a dangerous weapon. I’m 22, and if God wants me to get married, I’ll be thrilled because I think I’d love it. But what i want a thousand times more, is to wholly serve my King. As if there aren’t too many distractions as is!! I think God definitely brings couples together for the Kingdom, Paul just stresses singleness can be a blessing for those who are called to do things for the Kingdom that having a spouse might inhibit. The disciples, and many others included Jesus himself remained single all their lives, and I think they lived life to the absolute fullest!
God loves marriage when He initiates it, and God loves singleness when He initiates it. All that matters is that you seek Him first in whatever relationship status you are to hold.
You are amazing for pointing this out! I totally needed to hear this! God bless!
totally need
Lauren – I appreciate you saying “when He initiates it.” I struggle with my attitude towards marriage and singleness. But I find that pursuing Christ first helps to put the two states in their proper place: second to God. Mandy Dobbelmann in her blog Forte e Bella writes, “From the moment we claim the truth of being the Beloved, we are faced with the call to become who we are.’” That is our call in this life; that is our aim. Not just marriage, or children, or the perfect job, success, or fame but simply to discover what it means to be the Beloved of God and live our whole lives there.” Thanks for sharing your heart, Lauren.
A year later here, but thank you for this insight, Lauren!
Love this :) thank you
For everyone who is doing the plan this year, congrats, we are one third of the way through! This is a great time to reflect on how God has changed our hearts through committing to read the Bible in a year. For me, the lord has led to me connect more with my husband spiritually and not make devotionals a solitary activity. I got us the Proverbs plan that just came out to do together! I would love to hear how others hearts have been changed.
Stephanie, thanks for prompting us to comment! I’m so glad to have joined in this year’s Bible in a year plan. I have to admit some books so far have been difficult to read, but God’s grace and everyone’s comments on here really help me. The Lord has led me through this plan to develop a love, hunger, and thirst for his word as I have never experienced before. I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, but I’ve never enjoyed reading the word so much as now. Everyday I look forward to spending time in the word, with the Lord and in prayer. This year has been particularly hard for me, but God’s word has a way of always helping me set my eyes on Christ and not on my circumstances.
Melisa, I encourage you to try the Message version, it was a game changer for me. It is very, very easy to understand. It’s a great reading version of the Bible.
1 Corinthians 7:23-24
•these verses remind us that God doesn’t want us to change – He wants us as we are.
1 Corinthians 7:35 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.
•Paul also reminds us that we are to dedicate our lives to the glory of the Lord. It is easy to get caught up in “anxieties” and “worldly things” (v.32-33), but God calls us to live for something more: His glory and peace.
38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
This reading confuses me. It seems like he is saying that it’s easier to not get married (and maybe looked higher upon). But God wants for us to not be alone. I’m confused what he’s getting at here.
I think Paul is telling us that in this world there are so many distractions and one of them is being married to someone. If we are so occupied with our husband then we lose focus on working for the Kingdom of God. But Paul says that because of the present time, wherein immorality is high, if you cannot control your lust or yourself then it is wiser for us to get married BUT we must not forget that we too need to serve God, not only our spouse.
So in that verse 38, he might (I’m not sure with my interpretation) be saying that the man who does not marry can focus more on God’s Kingdom…no other distractions.