Legacy of Faith
God’s grace to you on this last full week of this new year!
It is hard to believe the first month of 2023 is almost gone. A great deal has happened in our nation and world this month. We have seen the leadership in parts of our government change. The war in the Ukraine has continued. The news is filled with evil people doing horrible things to those who are innocent. There is always a heightened sense of optimism when a new year begins. Sadly, it does not take long for this optimism to be quashed.
The world we live in has not really changed from how it was in the past. Yes, technology has changed how we live, but people are still the same. The same issues and struggles which filled the hearts of people 2000 years ago captivate our hearts today. We want to have meaning and purpose in our lives. We desire to have enough money to live and provide for our family. We dream for our children, that they will have long productive and blessed lives. We want to retire and live comfortably well into our golden years! Did I miss anything? Oh yea, we want to impact the world for Jesus!
Sadly, the thought of leaving a legacy of faith is often forgotten in our long litany of life goals. This is what Paul is still focused on in our text. The issue which has been his focus for quite a while in 1 Corinthians 7 is that of marriage. What is the marriage relationship like and are we, in a since, obligated to get married, or can we devote ourselves to serving God in a single life? Listen to what he says today.
But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let them marry. But the one who stands firm in his heart, if he is not under constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better. 1 Corinthians 7:36-38
Paul is not addressing the Jews of Palestine where most marriages were arranged by the parents. The city of Corinth was a vibrant trade city of the Roman empire. The people who lived there were often wealthy, highly educated, well-traveled, and conflicted in their understanding of how our Christian faith is to be lived out in our lives.
The issue Paul addresses is that of marriage or singleness and how this relates to serving God in His kingdom work. Most people are quick to label something as either right or wrong, sinful or acceptable. This seems to be where the members of the Church of Corinth have found themselves concerning marriage vs. service to God. “Can you be married and serve God faithfully at the same time?” It seems like such a silly question to us, but for Paul’s readers it is very real. At least some of them had a passion and desire to devote their lives to the Gospel ministry. These were people who had been rescued from some of the most despicable and vial lifestyles in the ancient world. They found true freedom and forgiveness in Christ. Their desire was to devote their lives to sharing with others everything they had come to know in Jesus.
They wanted to live their lives in such a way that their legacy was one of faith and service to God above everything else. But what of marriage and family? What about their engagements and the person they had pledged themselves to wed? Paul is very gracious in this text. It is not a sin to remain single and it is not a sin to marry. We have the freedom to choose!
So many people live their lives with total freedom in regards to everything in their lives but “religion.” Once God is mentioned, everything becomes black and white, right or wrong. Sadly, we believe our relationship with God is about rules and the proverbial list of “do’s and don’ts.” We have truly lost the understanding of Christian freedom!
We are not bound to do or not do anything. Jesus was very clear when He gave us the true understanding of the Old Testament Law. It was about loving God first in our lives and then loving our neighbor as ourselves. If a person is motivated by these two loves, then the choices made will be pleasing to God and beneficial to others. The opposite of this type of life is to live by rules and regulations which place us in a position of seeking to obtain God’s approval by what we do. This is a life both contrary to the Gospel and impossible to obtain. I have said it countless times over the years, our Christian life is not about what we do! It is always about who we are! You are a child of God and what you do flows out of who you are and not the other way around.
So marry if that is what you desire! Or, stay single! Choose a course in life which satisfies your heart. It is not a right or wrong issue! But, whichever you choose, live your life to the glory of God and leave a legacy of faith and service to God. If you are single throughout your life, the world will be impacted in a significant way through you. If you are married and have a family then your marriage is a witness and your legacy of faith is handed down and lived out for generations to come. Both are blessed and pleasing to God!
Be blessed and live for Jesus,
Pastor Russ
It is hard to believe the first month of 2023 is almost gone. A great deal has happened in our nation and world this month. We have seen the leadership in parts of our government change. The war in the Ukraine has continued. The news is filled with evil people doing horrible things to those who are innocent. There is always a heightened sense of optimism when a new year begins. Sadly, it does not take long for this optimism to be quashed.
The world we live in has not really changed from how it was in the past. Yes, technology has changed how we live, but people are still the same. The same issues and struggles which filled the hearts of people 2000 years ago captivate our hearts today. We want to have meaning and purpose in our lives. We desire to have enough money to live and provide for our family. We dream for our children, that they will have long productive and blessed lives. We want to retire and live comfortably well into our golden years! Did I miss anything? Oh yea, we want to impact the world for Jesus!
Sadly, the thought of leaving a legacy of faith is often forgotten in our long litany of life goals. This is what Paul is still focused on in our text. The issue which has been his focus for quite a while in 1 Corinthians 7 is that of marriage. What is the marriage relationship like and are we, in a since, obligated to get married, or can we devote ourselves to serving God in a single life? Listen to what he says today.
But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let them marry. But the one who stands firm in his heart, if he is not under constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better. 1 Corinthians 7:36-38
Paul is not addressing the Jews of Palestine where most marriages were arranged by the parents. The city of Corinth was a vibrant trade city of the Roman empire. The people who lived there were often wealthy, highly educated, well-traveled, and conflicted in their understanding of how our Christian faith is to be lived out in our lives.
The issue Paul addresses is that of marriage or singleness and how this relates to serving God in His kingdom work. Most people are quick to label something as either right or wrong, sinful or acceptable. This seems to be where the members of the Church of Corinth have found themselves concerning marriage vs. service to God. “Can you be married and serve God faithfully at the same time?” It seems like such a silly question to us, but for Paul’s readers it is very real. At least some of them had a passion and desire to devote their lives to the Gospel ministry. These were people who had been rescued from some of the most despicable and vial lifestyles in the ancient world. They found true freedom and forgiveness in Christ. Their desire was to devote their lives to sharing with others everything they had come to know in Jesus.
They wanted to live their lives in such a way that their legacy was one of faith and service to God above everything else. But what of marriage and family? What about their engagements and the person they had pledged themselves to wed? Paul is very gracious in this text. It is not a sin to remain single and it is not a sin to marry. We have the freedom to choose!
So many people live their lives with total freedom in regards to everything in their lives but “religion.” Once God is mentioned, everything becomes black and white, right or wrong. Sadly, we believe our relationship with God is about rules and the proverbial list of “do’s and don’ts.” We have truly lost the understanding of Christian freedom!
We are not bound to do or not do anything. Jesus was very clear when He gave us the true understanding of the Old Testament Law. It was about loving God first in our lives and then loving our neighbor as ourselves. If a person is motivated by these two loves, then the choices made will be pleasing to God and beneficial to others. The opposite of this type of life is to live by rules and regulations which place us in a position of seeking to obtain God’s approval by what we do. This is a life both contrary to the Gospel and impossible to obtain. I have said it countless times over the years, our Christian life is not about what we do! It is always about who we are! You are a child of God and what you do flows out of who you are and not the other way around.
So marry if that is what you desire! Or, stay single! Choose a course in life which satisfies your heart. It is not a right or wrong issue! But, whichever you choose, live your life to the glory of God and leave a legacy of faith and service to God. If you are single throughout your life, the world will be impacted in a significant way through you. If you are married and have a family then your marriage is a witness and your legacy of faith is handed down and lived out for generations to come. Both are blessed and pleasing to God!
Be blessed and live for Jesus,
Pastor Russ
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