Holiness in Both Celibacy and Marriage
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (NASB)
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of command. 7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.
SUMMARY
Paul reminds the church of Corinth of the reason behind having a wife or a husband. He says that the husband and wife are to have each other because otherwise, they would fall to sexual immoralities and that they should fulfill their duties to each other as husband or wife by giving over authority of their bodies to the other person.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
A lot of the words that Paul used in this passage reflect the concept of ownership of one person by another. I see this in verse 2, where each woman has her "own husband" and each man has his "own wife". Again in verse 4, it says that the wife "does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does" and vice versa. I think God's idea of marriage is so different from my own mindset because I see ownership very differently. I see it more as something that will bring me value and be beneficial for me, and that I can use however I want. However, this passage shows that ownership is not only about commitment, but also the ability to fully give what you have to the other person. Ownership does not mean that I possess or have control over something, or that it is just one-sided. It is rather that I give authority to the other person in a mutually giving relationship. I also appreciate Paul's view at the end saying that he wishes "all men were even as I myself am". I like how Paul is content with where he is because he realizes that God has gifted him with celibacy, and he doesn't feel that it is wrong just because the majority of people are not like him. I also need to realize that wanting to blend in like everyone else may be rejecting God's unique plan and purpose for me.
APPLICATION
I think I need to pray more about marriage and a future husband. I pray that God would help me change my mindset to not see marriage as a way to possess another person nor add to my own sense of worth. Rather that I would be able to meet someone and generously give and also receive. I often go too far into giving or too far into receiving. Marriage, in this passage, also reflects balance and purity. Paul says that people should have their own spouses because of immorality, and they also should not deprive one another, lest they be tempted by lack of self control. In these verses, both people giving to each other in a husband and wife relationship leads to purity, and it keeps the scale from tipping too far to either person having too much power. Ultimately, God is the one who is in control, and He is at the center of the relationship.
PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for giving us so much of your love unconditionally. I could never repay you for what you have done. Help me to look at your example and be able to fully surrender to you. I pray that through my relationships with others, I will continue to purify my heart by giving myself without seeking gain. Help me to purely give, and know that if it is in your will, I would also be blessed to receive as well. Help me to think not only of myself, but of you and how you want me to live as your child. I pray that even if things don't change on the outside, that you would change me from the inside of my heart, and may I see my circumstances as you do. Amen!
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