Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 147
7:24-40
1 C o ri n thia n s
135
enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.
Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet
married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord
in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it
with you. Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you
are. If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have
a wife, do not seek to get married. But if you do get married, it is not a sin.
And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who
get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you
those problems.
But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is
very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on
their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should
not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those
who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For
this world as we know it will soon pass away.
I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man
can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him.
But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how
to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman
who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to
the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think
about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am
saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you
to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions
as possible.
But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will
inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not
a sin. But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency
and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. So the person
who marries his fiancée does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does
even better.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies,
she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord. But in
my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving
you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.
