What does this word mean to you?

[GospelS]

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

How do you view or apply this passage? I believe there is a lot of truth and wisdom in it but I'm trying to think how can one live like that, unless of course by the Spirit.

Live as though you are not mourning or rejoicing when you are actually mourning or rejoicing? And as though you have no goods and dealings with the world when you actually do?

I've seen some successful ministries and marriages where two people have truly accepted and let their spouses give themselves away to God's mission.

Your thoughts are welcome.

 

[GospelS]

In my experience, it is possible and praise God He gives us the strength. His yoke is easy. We can cast our burdens upon Him and overcome by giving Him our everything. And we won't be taken up by anything when we are consumed by His love.

 

[bèlla]

The key for the portion cited is found in verses 20 and 24.

Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.
Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

The reason is articulated in verse 26.

I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is.

He explains why it's beneficial in light of those distresses in verses 32-35.

But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and is divided.

[So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

The married person has responsibilities and concerns the unmarried one does not. Paul addresses this to the church in Corinth. You don't see the idea replicated in other letters. This is a word for believers undergoing persecution or similar challenges where remaining single may be beneficial for the Lord's work.

For those outside of that scenario, I'd look for a directive from the Holy Spirit and corroborating evidence that singleness or singlemindedness in relation to ones calling is desirable by the Lord.

I don't believe it is something we can create on our own. It's a mandate He'd lay on our heart with the related components (spouse, children, resources, support, etc.) to bring it to fruition.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

 

[GospelS]

For those outside of that scenario, I'd look for a directive from the Holy Spirit and corroborating evidence that singleness or singlemindedness in relation to ones calling is desirable by the Lord.

I mean imagine a single woman who has already prepared herself or learned to take comfort in the Lord should she happens to marry someone who is called to missionary work, with or without persecution, and he is required to live as though he does not have a wife for the sake of his calling as said in 1 Corinthians 7:29.

I don't believe it is something we can create on our own. It's a mandate He'd lay on our heart with the related components (spouse, children, resources, support, etc.) to bring it to fruition.

So each man has his own gift from God as Paul states further in 1 Corinthians 7:7.

 

[ViaCrucis]

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

How do you view or apply this passage? I believe there is a lot of truth and wisdom in it but I'm trying to think how can one live like that, unless of course by the Spirit.

Live as though you are not mourning or rejoicing when you are actually mourning or rejoicing? And as though you have no goods and dealings with the world when you actually do?

I've seen some successful ministries and marriages where two people have truly accepted and let their spouses give themselves away to God's mission.

Your thoughts are welcome.

This passage needs to be very, very carefully read within the larger context of what St. Paul is writing. Much of what the Apostle says in this section he is very clear is his own personal opinion and is not a commandment from God that must be obeyed--it is rather his own counsel on particular and complex matters. And some of these matters are relevant for those to whom he is writing and in the time of writing.

Much of what Paul is saying here, specifically, is predicated on the notion of an impending situation--in fact it seems here that Paul is under the impression that the end of age is very soon, why he thinks this (or if he actually does) is perhaps anyone's guess. But that seems to be the matter upon which this particular counsel is predicated.

I'd say this is probably not one of those places in Scripture to get too worried about--Paul is offering his own pastoral counsel on married life within a particular context; he is not suggesting that husbands and wives not devote themselves to one another as a general rule (which would if he was would seem to contradict everything he just wrote previously), but rather upon the predication that crap is about to hit the fan, and things are going to get bad. It is worth noting, though it may have no relevance, that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians roughly around the same time Nero came to power as emperor.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[GospelS]

The key for the portion cited is found in verses 20 and 24.

Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.
Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

The reason is articulated in verse 26.

I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is.

He explains why it's beneficial in light of those distresses in verses 32-35.

But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and is divided.

[So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

The married person has responsibilities and concerns the unmarried one does not. Paul addresses this to the church in Corinth. You don't see the idea replicated in other letters. This is a word for believers undergoing persecution or similar challenges where remaining single may be beneficial for the Lord's work.

I believe Paul's main concern regarding the crisis was that the appointed time has grown very short. And he wished all men were as him or remain in the situation they are called in so as to focus on the soon return of the Christ. I would think that the appointed time is even closer today than those days.

 

[bèlla]

I believe Paul's main concern regarding the crisis was that the appointed time has grown very short. And he wished all men were as him or remain in the situation they are called in so as to focus on the soon return of the Christ. I would think that the appointed time is even closer today than those days.

There's a lot of speculation today as it was in former days. I keep my eyes on the path He placed me. I was called for such a time as this and prefer to focus on my mission.

It can be a distracting subject for some.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

 

[GospelS]

This passage needs to be very, very carefully read within the larger context of what St. Paul is writing. Much of what the Apostle says in this section he is very clear is his own personal opinion and is not a commandment from God that must be obeyed--it is rather his own counsel on particular and complex matters. And some of these matters are relevant for those to whom he is writing and in the time of writing.

Much of what Paul is saying here, specifically, is predicated on the notion of an impending situation--in fact it seems here that Paul is under the impression that the end of age is very soon, why he thinks this (or if he actually does) is perhaps anyone's guess. But that seems to be the matter upon which this particular counsel is predicated.

I'd say this is probably not one of those places in Scripture to get too worried about--Paul is offering his own pastoral counsel on married life within a particular context; he is not suggesting that husbands and wives not devote themselves to one another as a general rule (which would if he was would seem to contradict everything he just wrote previously), but rather upon the predication that crap is about to hit the fan, and things are going to get bad. It is worth noting, though it may have no relevance, that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians roughly around the same time Nero came to power as emperor.

-CryptoLutheran

There's a lot of speculation today as it was in former days. I keep my eyes on the path He placed me. I was called for such a time as this and prefer to focus on my mission.

It can be a distracting subject for some.

Yours in His Service,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I would agree with all that. I consider the whole context and background of the verses spoken. I'm also looking at what He is doing in me, other Christians, and what's going around the world. I just wonder if Christians could possibly do better if we really live with that same earnest mindset and maybe much more because indeed the appointed time is even closer than those days.