Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:25-34

As we work through Chapter 7, it’s very apparent that there are some difficult teachings by Paul for us to understand. We can take the easy route and just say all this just applies to the Church of Corinth, but as Paul also said “All scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training” (2 Timothy 3:16) So while it’s very appealing to just skip over these verses, since I believe the whole Bible is the Word of God, we are going to study it because the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something. Now whether we can discern the Holy Spirits message is another topic , haha

I’m going to just sum up what I believe Paul is trying to say here, without getting into complicated debates and scenarios, Paul is telling the people “Stay Focused” Ok what do I mean by that? Well as a Born Again Christian we all have a calling, we all have a job to do as a servant of Christ. Whether you’re married or not, whether you’re a parent or not, whether you’re employed or not employed, we are all responsible to carry out our mission in Christ. 

Paul is not prohibiting marriage or family, as this would oppose Gods creation design. What Paul is warning here, the more responsibilities you take on , such as being a husband and father, you are going to bear a greater burden of managing your time between God and your family. As a husband and father myself, I can attest, managing a family, career, and a ministry can be overwhelming at times. However I rely on the grace of God to get me through it. I can’t do anything on my own accord, including being a husband and wife, without the Holy Spirit guideing me through every aspect of my life.

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Corinthians 7:35-40

As our brother Damon once said “God is in everything, God is in our family, God is in our work, God is in our ministry” I totally agree with Damon, The Holy Spirit is living inside of me and therefor leading me with whatever I’m doing, but everything I do should be for the glory of God

I know this post is probably is not the exegesis of scripture most people are looking for, and if we went line by line with the above passages, we could be here for months. But this is a summarization I feel the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us here in Pauls’ teaching. The bottom line is as a Christian, you have a job to do, Stay focused on finishing your race that was layed before you in Jesus name Amen!