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| It's better to marry than to burn |
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 (7)For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his
proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. (8)But
I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as
I am.
Paul was not married and said that it is better to remain single, yet this call
is not for everybody. One verse later he says that it is better to marry than to
burn. A Christian is not commanded one way or the other to marry. This means we
have liberty.
Very few have the grace to walk through life unmarried and those that do should
use their extra resources (time, money, and affections) to devote to the Lord.
It can be a very sorrowful and lonely life, and so it must be kept in very close
communion to God and in service to the saints to avoid discouragement. This
servant of the Lord should seek fellowship with other of God’s beloved children,
and look forward with joy to the life to come. Paul himself was just like this
and all of those unmarried children of the Lord have to do the same, or Satan
will come in and break this poor person’s heart with evil thoughts such as “no
one loves you”, or “you have nobody”. To those single people that cannot handle
this, remember that God has given you freedom. You are at liberty to patiently
pray for and seek a godly, spiritually mature spouse. “It is better to marry
than to burn” (v9).
Those that do marry must also anticipate hardships of a different kind (v28).
Marriage is difficult and though it is very rewarding with regard to
companionship, it also presents new drawbacks. It has been said, “the only thing
harder than living alone is living with somebody else.” Marriage naturally
results in arguments over time (however significant or insignificant). The
married person has much less time than a single person. The person who is
married will have to share their affections and service toward the Lord with
that of his or her family (v32-35). There are not endless hours in a day. The
married Christian must balance time and service accordingly. |
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