The Gift of Marriage and Celibacy

Text: (1 Cor 7:1-7)

 

In 1 Corinthians 7:1, “to touch a woman” means to get married. When Paul said it was good for man not to get married, he was not contradicting Genesis 2:18 (where God created a helpmeet for Adam). Social conditions have since changed and sin has complicated the marriage union. Husbands find it difficult to love their wives, and wives find it difficult to submit to their husbands. As a result, there are broken marriages and families.  It was in view of sin that Paul said it is better that one does not get married, i.e. it is good to get married, but it is better to be single.

(1)    The Gift of Marriage (1 Cor 7:2-16)

Marriage is a divine institution and has its purposes (Prov 18:22, Heb 13:4). It is needful (especially in Corinth) “to avoid fornication” (1 Cor 7:2). 1 Corinthians 7:2 also teaches that marriage is a monogamous relationship between one man and one woman. In a marital relationship, there are certain obligations (1 Cor 7:3-5). In verse 3, “benevolence” has the meaning of a debt. The husband and the wife are indebted one to another. Both must willingly consent to meet each other’s sexual needs. We must not belittle our sexuality.

Those who are married must work hard to stay married and to make their marriage work. (Note that the married ones are not less holy or inferior to those who are single.)

(2)    The Gift of Singlehood (1 Cor 7:17-35)

Singlehood is also a gift from God. A single person can totally and fully devote himself for God’s service. God will grant him the grace to be single. The advantages of singlehood are as follows:

-    free from marital hardship (v 28: “trouble in the flesh”),
-    more time to serve God (vv 29, 31),
-    can serve God “without distraction” (v 35).

(Note: It has been said that “Marriage makes Marthas out of Marys.”)

Each one of us has our individual calling from God (1 Cor 7:17, 20, 24), and we must personally know what God’s calling is for us.