1 Corinthians 7:1-16 A Question of Sex

Paul, in our reading today, answers a question posed to him by the Corinthian church. I would love to have seen their letter. According to my bible helps, Paul will address three of their questions. I wonder if there were more questions in that letter. Also, what prompted these questions?

The first question is written in a statement by Paul. “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman” (verse 1). This was not Paul’s opinion but their question. Paul, instead, recognizes that there is an inherent problem in that.

Sexuality and sex are a very important part of our being. The first thing Adam said to Eve when God presented her to him had to do with becoming united; “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23). She was part of him and the two of them were not complete until they came together. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).

God created this longing in us to “find our other half.” We have perverted it. So Paul encourages those who are seeking sex to do so only in the confines of marriage. This is where God intended it to remain. The husband and the wife giving themselves to each other unselfishly.

Paul ends our section today by speaking about divorce. He first informs the reader of God’s commandment. No separation, no divorce. That’s the hard and fast and the quick and dirty of God’s will on this subject. God doesn’t like divorce. Never did, never will. But God also knows our hearts and our struggles.

Now Paul gives his take on the subject. He goes beyond God’s commandment and gives his take on divorce when only one in the couple is a believer. Paul calls the believer to be faithful, period! The believer offers an umbrella of holiness to the unbeliever and their children through this union. But if the unbeliever leaves the believer is free. Only God knows if the believing spouse could have brought the unbelieving one to God.

This is what happened in my original marriage. My unbelieving husband walked away from us. That is for God to deal with and his departure left me a free woman, to marry or remain single as the Lord led me. God saw fit to bring me a believing husband and we are in it for life.

Father God, thank You for my beautiful children that came from my original marriage. Thank You for the blessing to me that they were, are, and will continue to be. Thank You for carrying me through the lonely years and suppressing the sexual side of me until You were ready with my forever mate. Thank You for bringing us together. I know I stepped out of Your order in the beginning and I also know that You forgave me when I repented.

Thank You for carrying me now through the time of abstinence due to physical issues. The love you placed in each of us is for one another is enough to satisfy our souls. I don’t know what the future holds for me but I know You will lead me through it, whatever it may be. Faithfully Yours and his until the end.