Tag: 1 Corinthians 7

Marital Status

Old Testament Reading: Leviticus 15 & 16
Psalms Reading: Psalm 54
New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 7

“Love is a burning thing

And it makes a fiery ring

Bound by wild desire

I fell into a ring of fire”

These are the words of Johnny Cash in his iconic song, Ring of Fire, that hold true for many, as many people have a desire for some form of romantic love that can lead to sexual intimacy.  Our society has a pretty wide range of views on what practices are acceptable or not to fulfill that desire for sexual intimacy.    Paul states that, “It is because of the temptation to sexual immorality that a man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband,” (1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV).  Marriage is the solution to the desire of sexual intimacy in Paul’s eyes.

Throughout scripture, it is a very constant concept that sexual intimacy is to be experienced between a husband and wife – nothing more, nothing less.  Paul urges married couples not to deprive each other, so that our lack of self-control doesn’t lead to sexual immorality.  I encourage both husbands and wives to fulfill their spouses’ sexual desires to help steer them clear of sexual immorality.  If you need some extra inspiration and motivation, you can read through Song of Solomon.

For those who are not married but burn with passion, I pray that you are able to exhibit self-control.  Remember the words of Paul in the previous chapter as well: “Flee from sexual immorality,” (1 Corinthians 6:18).  Paul does not encourage you to stand firm in the fight against the temptation to sexual immorality.  Rather, Paul encourages you to FLEE!  Be aware of your triggers and run away from them!

For those who are not married and aren’t “bound by wild desire”, I encourage you with the words of Paul: “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am,” (1 Corinthians 7:8 ESV).  The unmarried person does not need to fret about how to please their spouse.  They can spend all of this attention that many spend on pleasing their spouses, and the unmarried can devote it all to God.  What a blessing!

Whatever camp you find yourself in, whether you are married, single with passion, or single with no passion, I hope you are able to dig nuggets of invaluable information from this chapter about marriage.  When in doubt, you can turn to 1 Corinthians 7 for questions about biblical principles regarding marriage and the absence of marriage.

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. What is your current situation? What can you do now to make the most of your situation? How will you strive to please God in your situation?
  2. Married or unmarried, how can you flee from sexual immorality?
  3. What do we learn about God in our Bible reading today?
sgl23bibleplanDownload

Our Bodies Belong to God

1 Corinthians 7

June 8

1st Corinthians chapter 7 presents us with Paul explaining to the church the importance of Christian liberty in marital relations. This chapter is all about the importance of the Christian concept of marriage and how it needed to be established in the early church.

            In Paul’s letter he writes about the principles of marriage, but he also writes about singleness, in 1st Corinthians 7:4 Paul says,

            “A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does.”

In a marital relationship, the husband and wife belong to one another, just as we belong to God in our relationship with him. We can also see this in how Elihu speaks to Job in Job 33:6.

            “Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.”

We all belong to God in everything we do. We are to trust God in his decisions for our lives and the places we are to go, just as our spouse is to rely on us in our relationships.

            Paul also speaks of singleness in chapter 7. Paul says in 1st Corinthians 7:8-9, and verses 32-35.

            “I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am. But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.”

            “I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord. How he may please the Lord. But the married man is concerned with the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned with the things of the world, and how she may please her husband. I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.”

Paul isn’t saying we shouldn’t be married or have relationships, but he is saying, that when we are in them it is important to not lose sight of your faith, and to devote yourself to God first. Sometimes our seasons of singleness are God’s way of pulling us closer to him, and that is one of the most important periods in our life. We have an opportunity to be devoted to only God and spend time learning who he wants us to be.

This is where I have been in my life lately. I’m realizing that my relationship with God must come first before I am able to have a relationship with someone else, so that we can strengthen each other through our faith in Christ. God wants a relationship with us, and for us to trust in him first and foremost.

-Hannah Eldred

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. Whether you are single or married, how can you deepen your devotion to God?
  2. What is the person to do who is married to an unbeliever? Why?
  3. If you will be choosing a spouse, what does Paul say he/she has to be? Why?
  4. If you are married, how can you work (ideally, together, with your mate) at keeping God first?

2022 SeekGrowLove Bible Reading PlanDownload