Staying Single or Marrying

About virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine 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. However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. And I say this brothers: the time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though 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 the world as those who did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away. 1Cor 7:25-31
 
In times of distress and hardship staying single has it's benefits, however Paul was saying that if a person was betrothed to not try and escape the betrothal. Some young people are happy being single whilst this does not factor on the radar of many as relationships with the opposite sex drive them.
 
In some countries in the world, remaining single would be an advantage. However, even in war torn countries such as Syria, we see a lot of young couples trying to escape together. We have a pastor in our church who came to Australia by himself from a strife ridden country in Africa, to seek a better life for his family. People in our church aided him in getting his family out, but until that time he was in anguish of soul being separated.
 
Paul could see the anguish that awaited the married and was trying to save them. For Paul to be married would have torn him in two and his wife also as he had to endure much hardship and time in prison. He would not have been free to travel as he did, if he was married. We know the apostle Peter was married and we do not see him doing the ventures that Paul was able to do.
 
When considering the anguish being suffered by families torn apart by war, it is easy to understand Paul's point in all this. We have a family in my city of Tamworth who has a daughter caught in Nice where only to days ago a terrorist drove a truck into a crowd of people killing over 80. The family here are very concerned for their daughter and I am sure that right now she probably wants to be home.
 
I watch my children and grandchildren and the pain they struggle with. Yes they are willing but I can see Paul's point about signing up for grief when you marry, it is what you do. As a grandparent, I am also grateful they persevere. I am blessed to be involved. Amen!

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