We turn now to the New Testament Scriptures, and to the book of 1 Corinthians, and chapter 7. 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, and we're going to be reading verses 32 through 40. Verses 32 through 40. 1 Corinthians 7, beginning at verse 32. Again, this is the word of the living God. I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. but the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, And it has to be. Let him do as he wishes. Let them marry. It is no sin. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So then, He who marries his betrothed does well. And he who refrains from marriage will do even better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet, in my judgment, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. Amen. Again, so far, God's word. In verses 25 through 31 of this chapter, Paul has addressed the unmarried. And he has exhorted those who are contemplating marriage to consider carefully certain realities, the things that are the case for those who contemplate entering the great institution of marriage before they proceed. There are serious and sobering things to consider before entering into this state of marriage. He has drawn attention to special crises of life, along with the general cares of life. He wanted to remind them that overall that life is brief and that the institution of marriage is not an eternal one. And lastly, he brought to their attention the demands of marriage, which is where we started our reading this evening at verse 32 and following. What has been Paul's burden so far? It is that single Christians are not to become fretful, anxious or frustrated because they are not yet married. He wants to emphasise to them that in Christ they are set free and that includes being free from the idolatry of this world. Idolatry that is not only the worship of illegitimate things according to the revealed will of God, but also turning those things which are God's good gifts to us and worshipping them rather than the creator and redeemer for Christians who provide such good things. And so we saw last week that sadly we can even worship the institution of marriage, giving it to it a priority over God himself. Paul wants to show the believers here and the believers in all generations that in their freedom from idolatry, it is a freedom such that they do not make idols of any good gift of God, including God's good gift of marriage. Well, as we come to the text this evening, what do we find in this passage? Well, in 1 Corinthians 7, 32 through 40, Paul pursues his rationale for the single person to stay single by showing how the gospel can be well served through such a lifestyle. But he balances his preference by stating that there is a freedom for Christians to decide. Let me repeat that. It's a fairly lengthy sentence this evening in summary, but it is one sentence. In 1 Corinthians 7, 32 through 40, Paul pursues his rationale for the single person to stay single by showing how the gospel can be well served through such a lifestyle. But he balances his preference by stating that there is a freedom for Christians to decide. Well, as we seek to think about this topic this evening, we're going to do so by considering two things. First of all, freedom to serve. And then secondly, freedom to decide. So, freedom to serve and freedom to decide. First of all then, freedom to serve, verses 32 through 35. Paul starts off in verse 32 by saying, I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. And so the freedom the Christian man has in his single state is that his interests are not divided between how to please the Lord and how to please his wife. Paul spells that out at the beginning of verse 34. Now, of course, these two concerns are not automatically opposed to one another, as if you can only do one and not the other. Otherwise, the marriage state would not be applicable for any Christian. If there was natural hostility in accommodating the responsibilities of marriage with the service of God, then that would have to be our forced conclusion, wouldn't it? But all that Paul has said so far has convinced us, I trust, that that is not what he's saying. But nevertheless, he is saying that once you are married, there are obligations and duties and responsibilities that cannot be ignored or shirked. And so, young single men this evening, you need to understand that. But as you are if you are single at the present time, you can give yourself with undivided devotion and attention to the law's work. You do not have any competing responsibilities with regard to marriage. But once you enter into that great blessing and gift and institution that the Lord has provided, then it is simply a reality that there is now both of these things for you to work out as a married man. And so we want to say the two concerns are not automatically opposed. But once married, a man will sometimes have to prioritise his use of time. Sometimes it will be in this direction, towards the Lord's work. At other times he will have prioritised to the responsibilities he has to his wife. Things will never be the same again once he has been married. This will simply be a fact of life. So, I have to contend with every day as we seek the Lord's wisdom to help us to judge a right in these things. So, Paul's point is that unmarried Christians can devote their energies and time to the service of God without such distractions. And then, of course, just in case the ladies think that only applies to the men, he equally says it applies to the ladies. The end of verse 34. or rather, I should say, at the beginning there. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about the worldly things, how to please her husband. So the same situation, though with regard to differing responsibilities within the marriage, the same principle applies, both for men and for women. Once married, they then have competing, in one sense, for their time and energies and dedication. Both legitimate, let's be clear, both legitimate duties and obligations and responsibilities. But nevertheless, since there is only one of each person, they have to prioritise in a way that they did not have to before. So what is the summary? Unmarried Christians can devote themselves all of themselves to the Lord's work without being concerned with the responsibilities to a spouse. They can give of their energies and time to the service of God without such distractions. Well then, we must ask ourselves this evening, is that how unmarried believers view things today? Do they read 1 Corinthians 7 and see their singleness in that way? Do they see that their state of singleness, however long the Lord grants that to them in His providence, that is how it is to be used? Well, I suggest that not always. You see, we live in a day and an age that militates against such thinking. We live in a society that is obsessed with relationships idolatrous even with these good gifts of God, even idolatrous of the blessings within marriage, particularly with the blessing of physical relations, even within marriage. And so it is all too easy for young people especially, but single people of any age, to buy into what is essentially the lie of the devil himself. That unless you are in such a relationship, you cannot be a fully rounded, fulfilled person serving the Lord. Now we know, as we've seen before, that where God gives the gift of singleness, either temporarily or permanently, that does not put the position, as it were, as a second class citizen, as far as God is concerned. He has called them to a particular task. And so, in a way that perhaps we do not fully understand, that person does live a life, whilst God intends them to live that way, in a way that is fulfilling, that is satisfying, that is giving of themselves in this focused and particular way to advancing the kingdom of God. Now of course, as we saw before when we thought about this, the way in which that is fulfilled is different from the married estate. They do not have the blessing of a spouse, and the way in which that provides companionship. But nevertheless, the apostle himself, at least at this time, could testify, because it is clear that he was single at this time. That he was not, in that sense, as many find themselves, that it were consumed by finding a spouse, that that was the top priority. He could not function properly without such. And so we need to think about this and think our way through this as Christians in the present day and generation, particularly for those who find themselves in this situation. More typically it can be younger people, but it is not constrained and limited only to younger people. You see, because so often we buy into the way that the world thinks, the consequence is that there is pressure placed upon particularly young Christians, but not limited to them, to simply give all of their time and energy and efforts, as it were, to get into a relationship as quickly as they can, for younger people as early as they can, with, of course, the long-term rightful goal of establishing a proper and biblical marriage. But I think the text here in front of us this evening questions and challenges that thinking. You see, Christians need to hear, brothers and sisters, that there is no such thing as being on the shelf as a Christian. You're not on the shelf at the age of 18, at the age of 21, at the age of 30 or 40 or any other age. For the Christians, there is no shelf to be on. The way of thinking is fundamentally flawed. If we are a Christian, then our first and foremost concern is that we serve God in the circumstances, with the gifts and capacities that He has given us. He ordains all things. So often we can even find ourselves proud, can't we, of calling ourselves calvests, of glorying in the sovereignty of God, as we do. Of course, we should not be proud of that. But you see, this is one place again where, as we might say, the rubber hits the road. If God is sovereign and ordains all things according to his holy will and purpose, according to his wisdom, then if I'm called for a period of time to be single, and God gives the gift of that, temporarily or permanently, how is it that I can think that in some way I express my situation that is given from the hand of a loving Heavenly Father for His glory and my good as somehow being on the shelf, somehow life's passing me by, somehow I'm disappointed perhaps if we're honest, even angry with God, that He's ordained my circumstances such. You see, rather we need to encourage believers, particularly those who are younger, who this may be more a prevalent situation, to see the potential of giving some of the most energetic years of our life, as it were, physically speaking, to the service of God exclusively. instead of, as I say, being consumed with trying to get into that relationship which will result in being married as my only and ever concern, thinking that without that I can never be happy, I can never be fulfilled, I can never be satisfied. Now we want to balance what I've just said there. Some will get married early. And if that is God's will and purpose, it's right and proper. If that's God's gift to them, then we rejoice and give thanks for that. But if that gift does not come early in your life, how are you going to think about that? If God has given the alternative gift of singleness for a period of your early life, it has great potential, Paul is saying here, for the advancement of the gospel. You can dedicate yourself without the competing priorities and obligations. That's how you are to think of it. And so here, Paul wants all singles, whatever age they may be, to use their gift, however long or short it may be given to them, to please the Lord, he says, verse 32. To be holy in body and spirit, verse 34. That's how we are to think of it. That's why, as we get to verse 35, here Paul is emphasizing that this is his considered judgment, and that judgment is not a straitjacket. He's not laying down the law that must apply to all people in all times, in all places. He's not saying this is a matter of sin versus obedience. We'll come on in the second place to talk about the freedom to decide. But here he says it's an open door to promote good order and to secure their undivided devotion to the Lord during the period in which God has ordained these circumstances for these single people. And so again, even when we think about it in the backdrop of the context, you remember what was going on here in the Church of Corinth. There were those who were being restrictive or prescriptive with regard to how people ought to live with regard to the married or single state. There were those who said that the single state is to be exalted over the married state, and Paul will have none of that. There were equally those who were elevating the married state exclusively as superior to the single state, and Paul equally will have none of that. Neither of those situations are biblical. As we have said before, the married state is by far the norm. That's how God intends it for most people. But it is most. Some God calls. to a single life, perhaps even for all of their lives, or a significant part of it. And he's wanting to emphasise, while that is the case, there is great opportunity here for that person to serve the Lord in a way that they cannot as married people. And so, against this backdrop, Paul is not denigrating marriage. We can read far too much of his other writings to ever conclude that that was the case. He's not denigrating it as second best any more than he writes off singleness as second best. He wants his readers to see the benefits of both states. To see each is a gracious gift from God and that that gift is to be used appropriately. We are to use the passing opportunities of the brevity of this life in whatever state the Lord calls us. for the eternal well-being of our souls and the good of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, we want to see here those freedom to serve in the single state. But secondly, that freedom to decide, verses 36 through 40. Now, the beginning of this paragraph here has posed some challenges for the translator. In summary, the issue, though it is not very obvious in our English translations, nevertheless there is an issue here exegetically in the text. And the issue is whether the anyone of verse 36, where Paul says, if anyone thinks that he's not behaving properly towards his betrothed, the question is whether the anyone is referring to the fathers or guardians of the, particularly the woman who would be Under their charge, the guardian or father would arrange the marriage. Is it referring to the father figure or is it referring to the fiancée of the betrothed? Who is the anyone? Well, without going into a long piece of analysis, it's best to see this as referring to the fiancée. There are those who want to make the case for it referring to the fathers. The language of the text is not conclusive. But I think when we look at the context and the rest of the verses around it, it makes more sense for us to see this in terms of Paul addressing the fiancés. So if anyone, being the fiancé, thinks that he's not behaving properly towards his betrothed, if his passions are strong and it has to be, let him do as he wishes. Let them marry, it is no sin. So what's he saying here? Well, he says, if there's a strong desire for marriage, If it's clear that there is not the gift of singleness, if it has come to an end or it is not there, then in such a case it is better to marry. And Paul says clearly, as you can see here, this is not a right, wrong, good, evil, ethical issue. He says it is no sin to marry. That's why we have no right to elevate one status over the other, as if one's ultimately good and the other is ultimately bad. He says, if God has not given the appropriate gift, then you should marry, for all reasons prior that he said in 1 Corinthians 7, and here as he says specifically, it is no sin. However, again, he does want to make the point, verse 38. He says here, he who marries his betrothed does right, he does well, but he who refrains from marriage will do even better. So again, Paul still is emphasising here his preference for the single state, for those who are gifted because of this ability to serve the Lord with a whole heart, without these other distractions. Of course, we want to speak of this in the right way. I don't want anybody's spouse to get offended this evening that I'm calling them a distraction. But Paul says, ultimately, we ought to see at least this perspective. that when there is a spouse, then we have additional priorities. That de facto, though they are legitimate and proper, they take time and effort and energies away from those things that could be given all to the service of God. Paul again emphasises that in verse 38. That's why he says we'll do even better. It's the preference for having all the time and energy available for the service of God. And so Paul's stance here is consistent throughout his discussion of marriage. Singleness is good if one has the gift of singleness. But if someone doesn't have that gift, then he should feel free to marry. And so this preference is entirely in one sense and within the freedom that God has given each individual believer to exercise. His preference is entirely at one with what Paul has expressed with his views already throughout 1 Corinthians, namely that singleness gives greater opportunities for undistracted gospel service and that individuals should remain in the state in which they were called. Remember those are his two big category principles. But Paul here adds, and this is very, very important, that individuals have the freedom to choose in these areas, and that either choice may be right according to what God has gifted for that individual. Let me say again, just in case you didn't catch it, this is not a black and white issue between singleness and being married. It's not sin versus obedience. It's not ultimately an ethical issue, but rather it's in the area of wisdom. knowing what God has called us to and the gifts that he has given to fulfil that calling. Well, what does that mean then? It means that this individual responsibility and freedom that is given by God to each believer means that none of us have the right to lay down the law for others in such matters. None of us have the right to come to another and say, Either remain single or you must be married. Here Paul says that if this is the situation, if you've not been given a gift, then you are free to marry. It is no sin to do so. So, no one can tell you that it is. And it would be an improper use of any authority of someone to do so, whoever that may be, be it pastor, be it other member of the church. There is individual responsibility and freedom here, Paul says. Now, notice as he goes on to verse 39 and 40, he says the same is the situation with regard to widows. Primarily up until this point, he's been talking to single people who may have never been married. But he says, what about those who have been married but now are no longer married due to the death of their spouse? Well, to the widows, Paul says essentially the same thing here. If they are fencing the calling to remain single, they will find that there is a definite provision of God, a gift for singleness for this period of life, and again, there will be fulfilment and satisfaction there. If they do not have that calling, however, he's saying the same thing. They are entirely free to marry. They may marry again. It is appropriate and proper if that is the case, with only one condition. And that, of course, applies to those who are single and have never been married. They must marry another believer. Yes, there is freedom, but it's not ultimate freedom. Remember, when the scriptures speak about freedom, it's not a freedom to do as I please. It's a freedom within the boundaries that God has set. And so, he said, you are free to marry another, but only in the Lord, only to another believer. But notice again how Paul, having stated that freedom, says that it is his conviction that she is happier if she remains as she is, verse 40, for the same reasons he gave to those who have been single and never married. But think about it for a moment for the widow. It's not too difficult to see how such a woman's rich experience of family life while she was married combined with single-minded devotion to the Lord now in the single state, would equip her to be a wonderful, effective servant of the Lord in many different capacities, both in the church and in the wider community. Now, of course, as a lady, there are certain things she is not called to. She would never be called to that, whether she's single or married or anything else, particularly leadership in the church. But that does not mean there are many areas of service in which these widows can be effective. And in a way, when they have no other responsibilities of the married estate, they can be greatly profitable to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and to the wider community in which that Church seeks to witness. So, what's the summary of what Paul is saying here? He's saying that there's absolutely nothing wrong with being married. Let's be clear about that. He's not elevating singleness over marriage. But Paul wanted the Corinthians to stop being intimidated by those claiming, as it were, that they had special revelation and were attaching a stigma to marriage. So, he wants to get that straight. But at the same time, he wanted those who were thinking about marriage not to be naive about what it involved. It involves many new demands and responsibilities. Circumstances of crisis may come up which put particular pressures on marriage and certainly if they are the case, before you enter into it, you should think seriously whether this is the right time and the right circumstances in which to be married. It reminds them just of the general cares of life. It is harder in a fallen world to live in the spirit of marriage than it is simply to battle with the world, the flesh and the devil as a single person. He then reminds them of brevity of life, you remember, and says, well, the time is short. Be reminded of that. Marriage, though a good gift of God, is only for this time. It's not forever. And then, of course, he reminds them of the demands and obligations. Marriage is good, let's be clear. But it isn't easy. All of these things that we've mentioned, the special crisis, the general cares, the brevity of life, the demands of it, make it a challenge, even with the good grace and help of the Lord. So, that's what Paul is placing here before these believers. Well, what does that say to us as we try to wrap up this evening? In our present day, in this generation, Christians are in desperate need of Paul's teaching here on marriage and singleness. There's great confusion amongst many believers with regard to these things. We have those still who would say, along with those that were in the Corinthian church, that somehow they have a hotline to heaven. God has told them something very specific and say that marriage really is wrong and it is a second-class state and you're far better to be single and that's the priority, preferred, superior states. We also have those who think they're free to indulge in all sorts of immorality outside the bonds of marriage. because that's prevalent outside does not mean that the church has been immune to those issues and they've crept into the church. Often we associate those things with younger people, but it's not, again, limited to them. It's becoming extremely common, sad to say, even amongst older people who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we have those who think They may marry anyone, anyone they want, they're free to choose. They don't heed what Paul says here by the inspiration of the Spirit, only in the Lord, only a believer. So you see there are many issues that Paul has been trying to address here as he deals in this particular chapter with the state of marriage and singleness. But Paul's instructions here give us the remedy, the details that we need for dealing with all of these problems in how people have misunderstood and are confused about marriage and the single state. It's worth showing us that ultimately both states, whether single or married, are not independent states. They're not little domains of ours in which we are free to work our wills But they too, for Christians, are to come under the lordship of Jesus Christ. I think perhaps that is the most appropriate and particularly needed application. That people are to recognize that even in these areas, yes, good gifts of God are given to enable each one to live such, but they are not to be lived independently of God himself. not to be considered our own private little fiesta in which we work out what we want to do for our satisfaction and for our fulfilment and so forth. We need again to come back to the approach of marriage that has the perspective that it is the good gift of God, but it is also to be used in the service of God, as all things are in our lives. When we do that, the confusion begins to melt away. We see again clearly what God has said. And as that confusion melts away, we're enabled to demonstrate the beauty that God makes both in godly Christian marriages and also in the lives of those whom he has called. For a period of time, perhaps in early years or in the later years of our lives, when we're able to dedicate ourselves exclusively to the service of God. Having said all that, Paul emphasises here that we have freedom in Christ to choose, to remain single if we're gifted such, or to marry. In either case, it is not sin. And naturally, therefore, different Christians will make different decisions. It will not be all or none for all. So, we are reminded that Christians are not to sit in judgment on one another with regard to these things, but to respect one another's liberty as God has given it, within the sovereign will of God as revealed in Scripture. Now, if a brother and sister does go and marry an unbeliever, then we are to judge them. by the authority of God's word. This brother, this sister is wrong. You have no right to do that. You cannot use the excuse of Christian liberty. God does not give you that. But whether with regard to at one point in time in a Christian's life they marry this Christian brother or Christian sister, none of us can sit ultimately in judgment on that. To say it is sin for you to do so, but sin for you not to do so, These are things which God has left to the freedom of believers to judge, having, of course, called upon God for wisdom to judge a right. In other words, Paul is saying that we should enjoy our liberty, ultimately, firstly, to be Christ's slave. That's where we start. That's what our liberty is for, to serve Christ. And in doing that, then whether single or married, we shall find our true fulfilment and happiness. Well, may God so help us. In whatever circumstances he calls us, we do not know, as we have thought before. We may all be single at the present time. God may call you, sooner or later. For the marriage sake, we may be married. And as we have thought before, that in the normal course of events, one or other is called home first, and the other is left to the single estate, at least for a while again. You see, often we may think, well, this isn't immediate, applicable to me. But who knows what is the Lord's providence and purpose in all of our lives. And even if it is not something that we are wrestling with at the present time, then, brothers and sisters, we should be praying for those who are wrestling with these things. We have young people in our congregation. who no doubt are thinking through these things as they come to an age when they think about whether the Lord is calling me right now to be one of those perhaps who in early life will be married or whether I'm one of those who will give some years in singleness to dedicated service to the Lord. We should pray for our young people, brothers and sisters, as they wrestle with that issue. But it's not limited to young people. As I've said, many of us if not all of us find our circumstances change at some point in our lives. And again, we need others to pray for us at that time, that we too might be granted wisdom to judge and to use our freedom aright for God's glory and for the good of the everlasting kingdom. Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, we acknowledge that we do need wisdom from above in order to judge these things away. We thank you that your Word speaks clearly and speaks to these very practical matters of our lives. We pray that you would deliver us from the thinking of the world. How so often, O Lord, we find it invading our minds and invading the Church. But we pray, O Lord, that by your Spirit you would enable us to think your thoughts after you and not be simply drifted and taken along with the current of the world. We pray, O Lord, that in all things, that even in those areas where you have granted us liberty and freedom, that we would have the perspective to use that aright, that we might serve you best. Hear us then, we pray. We ask it in Christ's name. Amen.