Slices
Prepare
In what areas do you find self-control difficult? Ask for God’s strength and mercy.
Bible passage
Concerning married life
7 Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: it is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): a wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Explore
Having challenged them about incest and using prostitutes, Paul now starts addressing the Corinthians’ questions (v 1). If the body and sexual sin matter, as he’s arguing, can sex ever be a good thing? Isn’t it better to abstain altogether?
Paul recognises the desire to have an undivided focus on the Lord (see 7:32), but he regards celibacy as a specific gift and calling (v 7). Trying to live that out when it’s not your calling will cause grief (v 9). Instead, Paul argues that marriage is an important gift in such a promiscuous culture (v 2). In balanced language, wives and husbands are given authority over their spouse’s bodies: they’re to be different from the culture around them by meeting each other’s sexual desires within marriage (vs 2–4). Yes, they can abstain, but only for a time to deepen their spiritual lives and if they both agree (v 5). Then they must come together again so that their desire to be devoted to the Lord isn’t undermined by temptation.
Paul’s concern throughout is pastoral, balancing concessions and commands (vs 6,10,12) and making wise, practical decisions to limit harm in a messy world where faith and unbelief coexist, even in our homes (vs 10–16).
Respond
Pray for both the married couples and the single people close to you. Ask for God’s blessing on them in their different callings. Pray also for those experiencing separation and divorce.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Numbers 34,35; Matthew 25
Pray for Scripture Union
Give thanks for the schools, outdoor centres and other venues that welcome our holidays every year. Please pray that our holiday teams will be a blessing to the staff who they work with at all our venues.
