I Corinthians 7:17-40 (Click scripture reference for audio access)
"Principles And Particulars" •
10.21.12 • Sunday Morning Service, Calvary
Christian Fellowship
Intro.
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In the first part of chapter 7, Paul
laid out instruction for those in marital relationships. In some of the cases,
spouses wondered if they should remain in a marriage with an unbeliever.
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In other cases, some were on the verge of being abandoned. I can almost see
Paul writing to the married, but looking also to address those who were
considering marriage.
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He had something for them as well, speaking to it briefly in verses 6-9, but further expands upon it
beginning in verse 17, where we find
ourselves today.
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I want to look at these verses over two parts generally. First, there are "the principles" in verses 17-24 and then there are "the particulars" in verses 25-40.
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There are three principles and three particulars which I'll alert you to as we
go.
Text
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I Corinthians 7:17-20 : "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. Was anyone called while
circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while
uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and
uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
Let each
one remain in the same calling in which he was called." : The first principle that you are to embrace is that your life,
as it is, is a calling that you are to walk in.
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Listen to the NLT on verse 17: "Each
of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you,
and remain as you were when God first called you."
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Everywhere Paul went, he taught them to observe this about their own
lives.
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He will elaborate and illustrate this beginning with the very real cultural
issue of circumcision.
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If a person had been circumcised, which was a colloquial way of referring to a
devoted religious Jew, and Jesus met them, Paul says, "Don't seek to
change that identity."
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The same code of conduct went for the one who had been a strict Gentile. He did
not have to be circumcised to be a completed Christian.
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It would not be considered more spiritually advantageous to be circumcised than
uncircumcised. In fact, because of Jesus, the actual physical act of
circumcision was nothing!
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What really matters is that a person obeys what God has said and the first
thing that God has told people everywhere is that they should trust in Christ
and repent from their sins!
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He should remain in the same calling that he was called in! This points back to
a marriage relationship that had become an unequal yoke situation after
conversion.
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But it also spoke to their consideration that some callings in life were more
spiritual than others. Nothing is more spiritual than being where God wants
you, doing what He wants!
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Paul is not referring to sinful situations. For example, there is no such thing
as a Christian gang member or a Christian bank robber!
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Those are incongruent with a Christian life. Culturally, there are things that
may need re-thinking, but generally we may remain where we are and be saved.
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He gives us yet another contemporary, to the Corinthians, example with regard
to slavery.
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I Corinthians 7:21-24 : "Were you
called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made
free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s
freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not
become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he
was called." : Many in the church that God
reached were reached while they were slaves. Slavery was much different than
our American mind considers it.
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Not all slaves were treated well, but, there were some slaves that would be
highly regarded. Paul tells them to be Christian slaves. Look at your slavery
as though the Lord were your Master.
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Don't be concerned about it. Don't fret over it. Don't let it trouble you. This
might cause great concern to their hearts, as they wondered whether they could
please God or not.
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He does not tell them however, that they must remain slaves. If you can be made
free, use it!
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This was a possibility in the ancient world, as those who were involved in
slavery were often enslaved because of debt.
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Herein is our second principle: Stay where you are until God changes your
situation! This might happen organically, in terms of a plan over time, or
miraculously, in terms of a sudden shift.
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Some jobs will be unsuitable for the Christian and over time that will become
obvious. For that person, do your best until the Lord opens a door elsewhere.
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Remain married to the one that has not joined you in belief! Stay in that job
that challenges you with the ungodly people around you. Stay until He opens another
door of opportunity.
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If your job compromises your faith in some way, the Lord will find you a way
out!
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This brings us to our third principle: Wherever you are, slave or free, you are
free to be Christ's slave! Why? Because they had been bought at a price!
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If you are a Christian, wherever you are working, know that your orders come
from the Lord.
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Your boss may issue your working orders, but it is God that you are working
for! Does that not change your attitude?
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Don't think that you have the right to act any way that you want, just because
your boss is a heathen with little respect for God.
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Obey the Lord by obeying and being the best of that boss' employees!
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God bought you, a metaphor coming straight from the market place where slaves
were purchased! God has purchased you! You and I belong to Him, so be His wherever
He has you.
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We move now from the principles, to the particulars. First, the unmarried
general.
•
I Corinthians 7:25-28 : "Now
concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as
one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. I suppose therefore that this is
good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he
is: Are you
bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not
seek a wife. 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." : Virgins, the unmarried, could not
glean from the Lord's direct teaching about their situation.
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Paul again renders his apostolic judgment of the situation at hand, having been
one God had made trustworthy to do so. God had given him a character that they
could rely upon.
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Paul employs his Fatherly wisdom in a way that sounds a bit like this:
"Given what's going on, a good place to start would be to just stay as you
are!"
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The word "distress" could be referred to as calamity or extreme straits
of condition. Something had occurred or was about to occur that gave the
Apostle pause.
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One wonders what was taking place. Some have surmised that there was a looming
season of persecution on the horizon.
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Others suggest that many were following other's examples and abandoning their
relationships, which led to great pain and vulnerability within the church.
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As they are picking up the pieces, much was in flux, but men were to remain
with their wives unless they were unmarried, then they, the unmarried, were to
remain as they were.
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If they did marry this was not a sin, but that person would have trouble, the
same word for "pressures" or tribulations in the flesh and Paul is
wanting to spare them the trouble.
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He is not referring to the troubles that every marriage would go through. At
this time, in their context, getting married would carry with it some difficult
circumstances.
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If persecution was looming, it would be difficult to flee with the care that
you would have for your spouse. If it was because of great marriage failure,
there would be great emotional baggage.
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In that time, the distress that they faced was enough to cause Paul to advise
them to abstain if possible.
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Maybe things loosened up and Paul spoke otherwise later. For this time, trouble
was ahead.
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Frankly, many couples would do well to make sure that the time is right for
them to marry. Some might love to marry, but one's debts are too great. That
distress is worth noting.
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Some might love to marry, but one has not figured out what it is that they are
doing with their life. That distress is worth noting.
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It's not just about finding the right person to marry. It's also important to
note the time!
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I Corinthians 7:29-31 : "But this
I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have
wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did
not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as
though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of
this world is passing away." : The time
is short. The season for opportunity, the word here for time, is rolling up
like a scroll!
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Every Christian in every season has felt the same thing, from the Apostles to
now. The season for living like a Christian and doing the work of God is now!
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One might be tempted to think that the time is not short because here we are
2,000 years later! We have not been raptured and we are not living in the
Millenium!
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When Jesus does come, it will happen quickly and we are closer to that time
than they were. But apart from that, consider your own age. Is time not moving
quickly?
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Folks, no matter who you are, your time, your opportunity is not getting
longer. It's shrinking!
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On that account, even the married need to adjust their thinking about the
nature of life.
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Whether a person is married or not, they should be mindful of the things of
God.
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Don't think only about your marriage and family. Think about the Kingdom of
God! Marriage is not the ultimate reality. Don't neglect your marriage, but
don't make it your idol either!
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For those who weep, literally those who are mourning the dead, don't simply
focus yourself on those emotions. The same would be true of one who is celebrating.
These are not ultimate ends.
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Those who are investors, who are always in the hunt on the market should act as
though there was nothing to purchase and those who enjoy the world, should not
do so in excess.
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Listen to the NLT: "Those who weep
or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or
their joy or their possessions."
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These are things that must be done. We are not to simply go live at a compound
and wait for the Lord to appear. Live, buy, laugh and enjoy, but do so
understanding that this is not all there is!
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We can get wrapped up in all of the things of the world only to really discover
that the truth is that this world that we hold so dear, is passing away!
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It's a wise consideration to say to ourselves often, that only that which is
done for eternity will truly
matter. Only that which heaven recognizes as value, should be valuable to us!
•
I Corinthians 7:32-35 : "But I want you to be without care.
He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the
Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may
please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The
unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both
in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the
world--how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not
that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve
the Lord without distraction." : Paul wanted the single
people to be without the first care!
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Because the season is shortening, the unmarried should not be divided between
caring for the things of the Lord and the things of the world, caring for and
pleasing a wife.
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A single, celibate person has the ability to focus wholly on pleasing the Lord.
What decision can be made about this situation? Where can funds go? What is
possible with the time that I have?
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If you are single in this church, that should be your thinking! If you are a
single man, think about getting on a plane and going on a short term mission.
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Think about getting trained in the scriptures. See if your profession is needed
in a relief mission. The point is that you should be looking to redeem the
time! Be useful to your Lord!
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The married cares about the things of this world. There are mortgages to
consider, homes to maintain, cars to pay for. These things please a man's wife!
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For a person who is married, this is a blessing to have to consider. Paul is
not decrying that position. He is simply stating a fact that the single man has
a unique opportunity.
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These same differences apply to a wife and an unmarried woman. The unmarried,
likely, the one also without children, cares about the things of the Lord and
gives herself wholly to the Lord.
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There are just as many wonderful opportunities for women to serve the Lord as
there are for men. A married woman is limited in her service to the Lord.
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He did not want to lay a burden on them, picturing the noose of a captive being
led away to prison. He's not imposing this on them except what is right.
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It was right for them to think about these things. They needed to consider the
time and their mission before the Lord. It was proper for Paul to cause them to
think this way.
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If you are single celibate in this room, you need to consider how the Lord
might use you. Marriage is a good thing and if God wants you to find it, it's
best to find it while you pursue Him!
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Find out what He wants from you, do it and see if you don't find a wife that
way! Sadly, many are looking for a wife or a husband, and in doing so are
frittering away their usefulness to God!
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"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto
you!"
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Paul wanted the Corinthians to serve the Lord without distraction. The word
refers to one that is looking around in their mind at another obligation. Are
you constantly looking for a mate?
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Look instead for an opportunity to serve Jesus! Be single minded toward the
Lord.
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This brings us to our second group of participants: The Soon To Be Married.
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I Corinthians 7:36-38 : "But if
any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the
flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not
sin; let them marry. Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no
necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart
that he will keep his virgin, does well. So then he who gives her in
marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better." : This is a strange sounding passage. This is applicable either
to a Father who has a daughter that has been betrothed or a man who is
betrothed to a woman.
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A Father can choose to honor his daughter's gift of singleness and rescind the
betrothal.
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However, if she is old enough to marry, ie. past the flower of youth and does,
this is not a sin to marry off his daughter to a man.
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This would also apply to the male fiance who is suddenly wondering if he should
wait to marry given the present distress.
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He is however, unabated in his desire for her and begins to act outside of what
is becoming a man of God. He is acting unseemly toward her, as a fiance.
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He should do now as he wishes, to culminate what they have both been living
toward.
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They both want to complete their journey together and be involved intimately.
He must then marry his fiance, which is obviously not a sin. But the one who
stands steadfast in heart does better.
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In the mind of Paul, for the Corinthians at that specific time, no sin was
involved, but a better choice was available. You may look for the choice that
is allowed or you may choose the better!
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This is acceptable, but this is preferable! This is such an appropriate word
for us always!
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The final group of particulars are the ones who had been married, but were
widowed.
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I Corinthians 7:39,40 : "A wife is
bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at
liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains
as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God." : A wife is fastened to her husband as long as her husband is
alive. What a glorious thing to consider, especially in this day and age.
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Death is what is to part us and nothing else. What a privliege and honor to
carry out one's vows before the Lord in that way. Sadly, not many make it in
this world, but Christians must!
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If the husband dies, the wife can remarry whom she wishes. Whoa, sounds good!
Take your pick! Ah, but notice: so long as she remarries in the Lord.
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If He loves Jesus more than He loves you. If He makes you love Jesus more than
you already do. You have an open door If He helps you serve Jesus more!
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Anything less is to be avoided! A non-Christian is prohibited. A not so great
Christian is not recommended. An exemplary Christian is the standard to wait
for.
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Far too often, I have seen women in that scenario looking only for security and
the criteria is far less than it should be. A widow will be happier if she
stays unmarried.
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He says this knowing that God had given Him the counsel to say this! He would
not have said it otherwise.
Conclusion
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