Contentment is the Key

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CONTENTMENT IN THE KEY

1 Cor 7:25-28

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

There is not much doubt that this was spoken by Paul under the direction of the Holy Spirit, for a certain time in history for a specific culture. Yet the fact remains there still has to be a value in this for our lives in this present time and culture. We might be under the impression marriage is a bed of roses, but it would appear marriage may also bring us many troubles in life. Or because this is not a command of God, but rather a judgment of a trustworthy man, could it simply be his opinion because of his own experiences? Nevertheless, we can still agree with God’s word in the sense that we should be who we are called to be. It is true some people feel called to be single while others feel called to be married. There is no fault in either case as well as there is no difference in the relationship with God by either person. But the married and the single can serve in the Kingdom of God for He is no respecter of persons. He does not show favoritism. Could married life add to the troubles of a person? Most likely there may be some additional burdens associated with being united to another person. The responsibilities, both as a spouse and perhaps as a parent may well bring extra concerns which could divide our time for God. Yet God said that it was not good for man to be alone, so He established marriage. So, would singleness be disobedience to what God has established? Is there a conflict here? We will learn more in the rest of this dissertation, but for now, we should at least see there was trouble in that society and that we could see the same kind of trouble in ours someday. But for now, it would appear we can serve the Lord no matter of marital status, although some denominations take this to heart and insist that their clergy remain unmarried. Yet we who live as simple servants of our Lord can be married or single. Yes, some additional trouble may arise being married, but there can also be many temptations being single, that is being a virgin. what should we all do? Stand firm and be who we are, serve the Lord with all that we are, and be content with wherever and whatever God has called us to be. That is it, contentment is the key.