Daily Bread 2010 - 1 Corinthians 7
Daily 2010 - 1 Corinthians 7
Marriage
1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
And you thought the bible wasn’t practical? Apparently the Corinthians had lots of questions about marriage and the role of sexuality within marriage. Paul gives practical instructions to couples in a very down to earth fashion. Apparently Paul was single, but he saw the need for sexuality to be expressed in marriage in healthy mutually beneficial ways.
He also gives instruction to those who are married where one partner is a believer and the other isn’t. Paul gives this person latitude to stay in the relationship or leave. Paul even seems to say that the unbelieving spouse, in some sense, is sanctified by being united with the believing spouse. Of course, since these are first generation Christians most of them weren’t Christians before they got married.
The bottom line is that Paul believes that the end is near, so he wants both men and women to be focused on the affairs of the Lord. But in teaching this, he doesn’t disregard the institution of marriage. Paul seems incredibly realistic about the power of sexual drive and he realizes that this is a God given gift to be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage. Yet, he doesn’t want the believers to be controlled by this drive to the extent that it puts them into an immoral situation that will tarnish the reputation of the church of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus we thank you for the gift of relationships and the gift of sex. For those who are married, help us to continue to nurture our relationships with our spouses and not neglect their needs. For those who are single, help them to find healthy outlets for relationships, while using this season to be able to focus on God’s affairs in this world. In Your name, Amen.
Marriage
1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
And you thought the bible wasn’t practical? Apparently the Corinthians had lots of questions about marriage and the role of sexuality within marriage. Paul gives practical instructions to couples in a very down to earth fashion. Apparently Paul was single, but he saw the need for sexuality to be expressed in marriage in healthy mutually beneficial ways.
He also gives instruction to those who are married where one partner is a believer and the other isn’t. Paul gives this person latitude to stay in the relationship or leave. Paul even seems to say that the unbelieving spouse, in some sense, is sanctified by being united with the believing spouse. Of course, since these are first generation Christians most of them weren’t Christians before they got married.
The bottom line is that Paul believes that the end is near, so he wants both men and women to be focused on the affairs of the Lord. But in teaching this, he doesn’t disregard the institution of marriage. Paul seems incredibly realistic about the power of sexual drive and he realizes that this is a God given gift to be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage. Yet, he doesn’t want the believers to be controlled by this drive to the extent that it puts them into an immoral situation that will tarnish the reputation of the church of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus we thank you for the gift of relationships and the gift of sex. For those who are married, help us to continue to nurture our relationships with our spouses and not neglect their needs. For those who are single, help them to find healthy outlets for relationships, while using this season to be able to focus on God’s affairs in this world. In Your name, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment