›I Corinthians 7:32-35
›Worldly Concerns
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 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. 35 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.
(I Corinthians 7:32-35, ESV)
›Main Point
› Paul continues to share his wisdom
› He recognizes the realistic expectations that arise from being single or being married
› The single can devote their concerns primarily to the Lord
› The married can be devoted to the Lord and their spouse
› The latter can bring a greater amount of anxiety as one tries to balance between two good things
›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns
– Paul’s goal is not to place a burden on anyone
– One can appreciate the pastoral care Paul brings to the table
– We are so accustomed to the platonic dualism of spiritual vs physical that the way Paul addresses these concerns may be lost to us
– That being concerned about the things of the Lord are of greater value or purpose than being concerned out a spouse
– We have a higher view of the spiritual reality our faith brings rather than the physical
– “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” –Proverbs 13:22
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›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (2)
– We will say that an inheritance is bestowing good Christian values on our children
– The concept of “inheritance” is physical
– We make a false dichotomy of one being more precious than another
– The same God who says, “follow my Law and be my obedient people” promises a land of milk and honey
– It can cause us to doubt whether we should seek to please our spouse
– We can read this text and think negatively of the fact that the married seek to please their spouse
– Paul does not say, “A married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and that is bad!”
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›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (3)
– A husband can and should be concerned about how to please his wife
– A good father bestows good values but also seeks to be a provider
– Paul does not place the spiritual above the physical
– If one is married do it unto the Lord
– How? By seeking to please their spouse
– The best way I have been able to deal with my concerns of this world, to please my wife, is by loving her and being self sacrificial
– By walking in step with the Spirit
›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (4)
– It is far easier to allow my feelings, wants, needs, to come in the way of doing these things for her
– It is easier to be content with my own comfort
– The excuses for not seeking to please my wife has always been the difficulties
– Work, kids, family, chores, ministry
– I find it interesting that all the things we tend to prioritize are not mentioned when Paul discusses worldly concerns
– Our spouses are the ones we are specifically called to
– Marriage being a beautiful compliment between the deeply physical and spiritual reality that we encounter
›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (5)
– Paul isn’t to separate the two
– How many of you who are married have been concerned about your spouse?
– How many of you have been concerned about the Lord?
– How many of you have not prayed, or read your Bible, or practiced a spiritual discipline, because you spent time with your spouse?
– Does this mean we are bad?
– It means we are pulled into different directions at times
– The concern comes when we think one is more important to God than another
“9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
(Mark 7:9-13, ESV)
›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (6)
– There are those who would say that doing these spiritual activities are more important
– Do we place such a great emphasis on spirituality that we forget these relationships are just as important to the Lord?
– I come from New Jersey
– There have been times when I’ve made sure to be back on Sunday because I must preach
– I have placed a higher degree on this spiritual calling of being a pastor than on the physical calling of being a son
– Both are equally important
– There is even a potential danger in that by thinking my place here is greater than being a son then I am no different than the one who claims, “Corban”
““17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”
22 And Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
(I Samuel 15:17-23, ESV)
›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (7)
– Far too often we are willing to sacrifice things to God not realizing what we are actually sacrificing is obedience
– God is the God of both spiritual and physical
– If you have to choose between coming out on a particular Sunday or honoring your parents, there is no wrong choice, be encouraged to honor your parent
– The same with your spouse
– This does not mean we can all stop showing up on Sundays!
– This isn’t for those “I overslept” or “I don’t want to gather” moments
›Application Points
›Worldly Concerns (8)
– If, however, you do need to make the choice know there is not necessarily one greater or worse
– Both are good
– We need to be cautious against letting our traditions, even our spirituality, become something it shouldn’t be
– We need to be cautious against presuming to win God’s favor
– If one does not have parents, or one is not married, then being involved in ministry and focusing on spiritual disciplines is more attainable
– Having these other concerns is no bad thing either
– We can break free from the belief that spirituality is more important than obedience to what God literally calls us to do and be
– Spirituality does not necessarily bring us closer to God, but obedience always does
›Application Points
› The Gospel of Christ
– Origins
– Fall
– Redemption
– Glorification
