Nothing Matters But Jesus

May 23

Paul continues his exposition of his thoughts on marriage, not to restrict people of faith in any way but to enable them to understand what he feels is for their good. We cannot begin to grasp Paul’s point of view if we do not apprehend his complete devotion to the things of Christ and his resultant desire to impart that devotion to others.

Regarding his point of view he says in I Corinthians 7:2-5, “To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband...they have not power over their own bodies but each has control over the other. Defraud not one another…”

While married men and women must consider the desires of their spouse, the unmarried need concern themselves only with maintaining control of their own desires. Paul says in I Corinthians 7:34, 35, “An unmarried woman cares about the Lord’s affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.” The Apostle does not feel this option is open to the married woman.

Paul believes she must focus on the needs of her husband, so says, “But a married woman is concerned as to …how she can please her husband…” In Paul’s ‘perfect world,’ no person of faith would want anything more than to serve Jesus and to persuade others to love Him. Have we the capacity to devote ourselves so completely to Jesus that nothing, that no one else matters?