Devotional thoughts from St. Paul

1 Corinthians 7:32-40

32I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; 33but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

36If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his fiancee, if his passions are strong, and so it has to be, let him marry as he wishes; it is no sin. Let them marry. 37But if someone stands firm in his resolve, being under no necessity but having his own desire under control, and has determined in his own mind to keep her as his fiancee, he will do well. 38So then, he who marries his fiancee does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better.

39A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord. 40But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

I read this passage this afternoon in the devotional prepared by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Louisville. It was a part of 1 Corinthians which I don't remember having read before. The message Paul preaches to the Corinthians is kind of odd to me. He contrasts those believers who are married against those believers who are not married. He illustrates that the unmarried believers in Corinth are more interested in what God wants for their lives; whereas, the married believers are interested in their spouses and the requirements of the world.

Now I suppose we could read this in the context of a letter to the believers in Corinth, and not necessarily applying to all believers all over the world. However, I don't find the sentiment about which Paul preaches holds true all over the world. As a matter of fact, I would say that most unmarried people seem to be more interested in the delights of the world than the married amongst us. Of course, there are many exceptions. Many believers, both married or unmarried, seem to be more concerned with the world than with the requirements of the Creator. On the other hand, there are some, a remnant perhaps, who honestly seem to be searching for what God wants in their lives.

Never leave it to me to edit the Bible or Saint Paul for that matter; however, I think if I had been the writer of this particular passage, I would have warned against those among us who are so involved in the world that the dictates of God are forgotten. I think I would particularly warn against the temptations of the world in the context of the young and the inexperienced among us. Surely, we are all tempted by the allures of the world, whether we are married or unmarried. However, while we often find ourselves caught up in the callings of the world, we should always seek to hear that 'still, soft voice' who calls us, as was stated in the old hymn, through the "tumult of our lives' wild restless seas."

Whether we are married, unmarried, young or old, we should take the time amidst the callings and needs of our lives to listen for that voice.