Tuesday, May 19, 2026

On I Corinthians 7 and Singleness

"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." --I Corinthians 7:8 (KJV)

"I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.  Art thou bound unto a wife?  seek not to be loosed.  Art thou loosed from a wife?  seek not a wife.  But and if thou marry, thou has not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned.  Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you." -- I Corinthians 7:26-28 (KJV)

I just want to give a quick reminder to all those out there who are single and struggling with the notion of marriage, that it's OK to be single.  While I Corinthians 7 does advise churches to let Christian couples heated in the loins towards one another marry (v. 9) and for the couples to give "due benevolence" to one another (in the non-platonic matter) (v. 1-5), Paul also advises, with faithful (v. 25) judgment endorsed by the Holy Spirit (v. 40), for those who are single to stay single to make life easier for themselves, and to serve the Lord better (v. 32-35).  Paul is not saying that married people are unrighteous, but rather that married people have split priorities between the Lord and each other, albeit not a sinful arrangement.

There is a saying I have, and while I don't claim any divine endorsement as Paul did, I hope you examine this saying (I Thessalonians 5:21) to weigh its merit:

While one is better than two, two is better than twenty.

Meaning, while one focus (God) is better than two (God and your spouse), two focuses (God and your spouse) are better than twenty (or maybe more, depending on one's relationship with the world).

Now, for many, this is an obvious teaching.  However, I post it anyway, in part, also for myself. 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment

On I Corinthians 7 and Singleness

"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." --I Corinthians 7:8 (KJV) "I supp...