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Undivided devotion to the Lord

Scripture reading for July 15: 1 Corinthians 7

“I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Life has lots of issues that call for our attention and cause us to worry. Married life complicates each person’s life because we must continually be seeking the other person’s well being and good. We may be devoted to the Lord, but now in devotion to the Lord we must also give attention to our spouse and their needs and any children that may come. Paul was offering advice but not necessarily strict rules of conduct. He was seeking their highest good and calling. He himself was married and could speak from experience.

What God wants for each person is their highest good. Each person has a calling and gift to either marry or stay single. Paul noted that those who were single could give greater attention to how to please the Lord. Their attention was not divided with care of a spouse. He also was promoting God’s order in the church and world. Faithfulness to marriage was also a calling and blessing. Singleness was not a curse, but an opportunity to fully commit to pleasing God and doing His will. In whatever state of life relationship, we should seek to please God and put Him first.

Have you ever struggled to keep the Lord first as a person with a spouse and family? Do you feel that our culture and even the church looks down on those who live singly? Does this passage help you understand God’s view of your life, either as a single or married?

Prayer: Father God, thank You for this insight on marriage and singleness. Help me to live with grace as a married person, pleasing my spouse and our Lord. I want to live with Your divine order and blessing on my life and to fulfil Your calling on my life. I also applaud those who choose to remain single. Amen.