1Cor7:25-35 Singleness in the End Times

# Singleness in the End Times
## 1 Corinthians 7:25-35

[Mika Matin. Tennessee, US](https://unsplash.com/photos/MMylZHPsO2I "caption")

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+ how much of our lives is spent
  + **waiting** to get to the next level
+ grad, job, "real" job, bf/gf, married, kid
+ our lives are happening **right now**
  + God has a **calling** for this stage

---

# What does the Bible say to **singles**?

>>>
+ both the **woefully** single
  + **wanting** to get married
+ and the **happily** single
  + today's passage is for you, too
+ underlying principles apply to **all** of us
  + **married**, seniors, teens
  + e.g., widowed pastor's wife
+ don't **chase** after bf/gf, marriage, grades, career
  + these will **disappoint**
+ chase after God w/ **undivided heart**

---

## Singleness in the End Times
1. **Contented** [(v25-28)](# "ref")
1. **Having** But Not **Holding** [(v29-31)](# "ref")
1. **Undivided** [(v32-35)](# "ref")

---

Now about **virgins**, 
I have no **command** from the Lord

[1 Corinthians 7:25 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/c333d6YEhi0 "caption")

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+ *virgin*: **never-married**
  + what about **dating**?
  + virgin → **betrothed** → married
+ bright-line **commands**:
  + v10: no **divorce**
+ but if **no** explicit command,
  + not "do whatever **I want**"
  + but pursue **underlying** principles
+ ask God if should **marry** this person:
  + might not get clear **Y/N**
  + doesn't mean **go for it**
  + examine own **motivations**, purpose, commitment
  + do I know what I'm **getting into**? (nope)
+ so w/o explicit **command**,
  + what **principles** should we pursue?

---

but I give a **judgment** as one 
who by the Lord’s mercy is **trustworthy**.

[1 Corinthians 7:25 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Cassidy Kelley. Cleveland, US](https://unsplash.com/photos/p90szoOBYgk "caption")

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+ *judgment* (γνώμην): **knowledge**, counsel
+ *trustworthy* (πιστὸς): **faithful**
+ counsel from trusted **pastor**

---

Because of the **present crisis**

[1 Corinthians 7:26 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ales Krivec](https://unsplash.com/photos/ywtbSuCSjhM "caption")

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+ *crisis* (ἀνάγκην): compressed, constrained
  + time is **short**
+ *present* (ἐνεστῶσαν): **standing in**, imminent
+ increasingly **corrupt** world
  + Christ's **return** is near
  + time for **gospel** is short
  + ⇒ stay **focused**

---

[26](# "ref")
It is good for a man to **remain** as he is.

[27](# "ref")
Do not **look** for a wife.

[1 Corinthians 7:26,27 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Jon Flobrant](https://unsplash.com/photos/NEgEJmN3JZo "caption")

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+ v2-4 **marriage** has value as **testimony**:
  + **purity**: vs prevalent immorality
  + **duty**: mutual service
  + **authority**: mutual submission
+ Paul's **counsel** to singles:
+ recognize **good** in current calling
+ don't **seek** to be married

---

Each person should **live** as a believer 
in whatever situation 
the Lord has **assigned** to them, 
just as God has **called** them.

[1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Dolomites, Italy. Joshua Earle](https://unsplash.com/photos/8MbdD0pHXGY "caption")

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+ to each as the Lord **apportioned**,
  + *assigned* (ἐμέρισεν): measure
+ each as God has **called**,
  + *called* (κέκληκεν): vocation
+ thus **walk**
  + *live* (περιπατείτω)
+ seek **change** in circumstance
	+ kid wants other kid's **toy**
+ "maybe this change will **fix** things":
  + hair, major, school, friends, sexual orientation

---

Each person should **remain** in the **situation** 
they were in when God **called** them.

[1 Corinthians 7:20 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Venray, Netherlands. Michael Coury](https://unsplash.com/photos/DiKkJKvDi64 "caption")

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+ leading cause of **affairs**:
  + not **complaint** about spouse, but
  + **dissatisfaction** w/own life
+ not "**situation**" (environ, abuse)
  + but **calling** (purpose, role)
  + determined by **God**
+ each, in the **calling**
  + with which they were **called**,
  + in this **remain**
+ contentment != **laziness**:
  + *19* keeping **commands** of God

---

# Am I pursuing God's **calling**, or simply a **change** of circumstance?

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+ while **young** + single:
  + **find** God's calling
  + be **happy** with it
+ not doing **great** things for God
  + **preparation**: character, patience
  + learning to **submit** every part of life to God

---

## Singleness in the End Times
1. Contented [(v25-28)](# "ref")
1. **Having But Not Holding** [(v29-31)](# "ref")
1. Undivided [(v32-35)](# "ref")

>>>
+ be **happy** in God's calling
+ not **comfortable** in this world!
+ three areas that must be **subordinate** to God:
  + **relationships**
  + **emotions**
  + **finances**

---

What I mean, brothers and sisters, 
is that the **time is short**.

[1 Corinthians 7:29 (NIV)](# "ref")

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+ *short* (συνεσταλμένος): **wrapped up**, cut short
+ **world** increasingly **corrupt**
+ Christ's **return** imminent
+ **urgency** to share gospel

---

From now on those who **have** wives 
should live as if they **do not**;

[1 Corinthians 7:29 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Nancy, France. Rémi Walle](https://unsplash.com/photos/UOwvwZ9Dy6w "caption")

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+ not **neglecting** relationships
+ but **subordinate** under Christ's calling

---

Anyone who loves their **father or mother** 
more than me is not worthy of me;

anyone who loves their **son or daughter** 
more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever does not take up their **cross** 
and **follow me** is not worthy of me.

[Matthew 10:37-38 (NIV)](# "ref")

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+ **responsibilities** of family
+ do not **exempt** us from
+ **calling** of God
+ "if you **love** me, you'd ...."
  + ⇒ true love honours **God** first

---

those who **mourn**, as if they did not; 
those who are **happy**, as if they were not

[1 Corinthians 7:30a (NIV)](# "ref")
[Yuriria, Mexico.  Cristian Newman](https://unsplash.com/photos/Zi8-E3qJ_RM "caption")

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+ 1. **relationships** subordinate
+ 2. **emotions**:
  + *mourn*: **cry**
  + *happy*: **rejoice**
+ school form: "when I am **stressed**, ..."
+ what **habits** do I fall into 
  + when I am **overwhelmed**?
  + **happy**?
+ remember James 5:

---

Is anyone among you in **trouble**? 
Let them **pray**. Is anyone **happy**? 
Let them sing **songs** of praise.

[James 5:13 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ben White](https://unsplash.com/photos/4K2lIP0zc_k "caption")

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+ turn to God in **prayer**
+ in **all** occasions
+ with full force of all our **emotions**
+ 1. submit relationships
  + 2. emotions
  + 3. **finances**:

---

those who **buy** something, 
as if it were not theirs to **keep**;

[1 Corinthians 7:30b (NIV)](# "ref")

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+ **stress** reveals fractures in relationship
  + stress of **newborn**
  + stress of **parental** illness/death
  + stress of **finances**, job loss/change
+ battle over **"my"** money vs "yours"
  + **"breadwinner"** vs "deadweight"
  + what to **splurge** on vs what to **save** on
+ Godly **attitude** to money is for **all** of us
  + start **before** you get married
+ *keep*: **possess**, hold onto

---

those who **use** the things of the world, 
as if not **engrossed** in them.

For this **world** in its present **form** 
is passing away.

[1 Corinthians 7:31 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Iceland. Davide Cantelli](https://unsplash.com/photos/H3giJcTw__w "caption")

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+ **use**, deal with, engage
  + **necessity** to live in world
+ *engrossed*: use to **full**
  + make full use of, as own, **consumed**
+ the **schema** of this world
  + **pattern**, habit, manner

---

# Have I yielded my **relationships**, **emotions**, and **finances** to God's authority?

>>>
+ **imminence** of Christ's return
+ **urgency** + focus on gospel

---

## Singleness in the End Times
1. Contented [(v25-28)](# "ref")
1. Having But Not Holding [(v29-31)](# "ref")
1. **Undivided** [(v32-35)](# "ref")

>>>
+ single life much more **free**!
+ not free to indulge **selfish** nature
+ but free to draw **close** to God
  + single-minded **devotion**

---

[28](# "ref")
Those who **marry** 
will face **many troubles** in this life

[32](# "ref")
I would like you to be **free from concern**.

[1 Corinthians 7:28, 32 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Wilmer Edson](https://www.pexels.com/photo/light-road-dark-sun-16013/ "caption")

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+ *concern* (ἀμερίμνους): divided
  + **anxiety**

---

[33](# "ref")
A **married** man is concerned about 
the affairs of **this world** — 
how he can please his **wife** — 
[34](# "ref")
and his interests are **divided**.

[1 Corinthians 7:33-34 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Jens Lelie](https://unsplash.com/photos/u0vgcIOQG08 "caption")

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+ Not **condemnation**
  + just **necessity**
+ Married but **not** concerned about spouse:
  + not fulfilling **obligation** of marriage

---

[32](# "ref")
An **unmarried** man is concerned about 
the **Lord’s** affairs — 
how he can **please** the Lord.

[34](# "ref")
Her aim is to be **devoted** to the Lord 
in both **body** and **spirit**.

[1 Corinthians 7:32,34 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ben White](https://unsplash.com/photos/qYanN54gIrI "caption")

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+ *devoted*: **holy**
+ **body**: actions, practical daily life
+ **spirit**: heart, purpose, focus

---

Live as people who are **free**,
not using your freedom as a **cover-up** for evil,
but living as **servants** of God.

[1 Peter 2:16 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alex Woods](https://unsplash.com/photos/pZVi92S-ZMs "caption")

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+ single: **time** to reflect, pray
  + long walks on beach
+ how to **use** your time? purpose?
  + not pursuing **own** dreams
  + **serve** God

---

I am saying this for your **own good**, 
not to **restrict** you,

but that you may live in a **right** way 
in **undivided devotion** to the Lord.

[1 Corinthians 7:35 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Plattenkogel, Gemeinde Krimml, Austria. Lukas Budimaier](https://unsplash.com/photos/6cY-FvMlmkQ "caption")

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+ *restrict* (): **burden**
+ *right* (εὔσχημον): seemly, good **schema**
+ *undivided* (ἀπερισπάστως)
  + not drawn out, **undistracted**
+ *devotion* (εὐπάρεδρον):
  + sit beside, **attend**
  + God's presence is **enough**

---

# Am I **undistracted** in **devotion** to Christ, **holy** in body and spirit?

>>>
+ **sit** at His feet
+ **obey** in holiness

---

What I mean, brothers and sisters, 
is that the **time is short**.

From now on those who **have** wives 
should live as if they **do not**;

those who **mourn**, as if they did not; 
those who are **happy**, as if they were not;

[1 Corinthians 7:29-30 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

---

those who **buy** something, 
as if it were not theirs to **keep**;

those who **use** the things of the world, 
as if not **engrossed** in them.

For this **world** in its present form 
is **passing away**.

[1 Corinthians 7:30-31 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

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