‭Note for 2024/05/09 - 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 KJV‬ - Marriage and due Benevolence

 

‭1 Corinthians 7:1-40 KJV‬

[1] Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. [2] Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. [3] Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. [4] The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. [5] Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. [6] But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. [7] For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. [8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. [9] But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. [10] And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: [11] but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. [12] But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. [13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. [14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. [15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. [16] For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? [17] But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. [18] Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. [19] Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. [20] Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. [21] Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. [22] For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. [23] Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. [24] Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. [25] Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. [26] I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. [27] Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. [28] But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. [29] But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; [30] and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; [31] and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. [32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: [33] but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. [34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. [35] And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. [36] But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. [37] Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. [38] So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. [39] The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. [40] But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.7.1-40.KJV

Note for 2024/05/09

Is there really a need for me to say more on this?

The time we live in has made marriage cheap, almost as a license for fornication. And when the participants had enough, they defrauded one another and quickly put one another off as if they were dead. What started in love, ends in hate; if it started with love at all, and not in lust. It is as if marriage has lost its sanctity all together, and now, people are just living together. Don't you know when two become one flesh they are joined together? Did Paul not mention it in the previous chapter when one is joined to a harlot? People come together with no benevolence, without commitment and in self interest only. Friends, there is indeed another term for it, it is fornication. So have men come to have many wives, and women, many husband's; without any sanctity in it. All that can describe the state of this today is, "loose living." To me it seems that this generation has lost the meaning of sanctity all together, it has become a foreign word for them. 

Where do I start? Who is still standing without guilt? No! Today people only want the benefits of something without the persistence to see it through in righteousness to the end. Has it then become a thing of force? Has it then become nothing? Ask the man whose wife has gone after another if it is nothing. Ask the wife whose husband has abandoned her if it is nothing. It is as murder of the heart. How has love become hateful? No wonder mankind treats the matter of faith as nothing too. Is the relationship between a husband and a wife not used as the example of that between our Lord Jesus Christ and the Church? Are the children then not left as if they are orphans? No, friends. If any love is winning out this day, it is the love of self and man has become to blind to see the trouble that he has placed himself in. Yes, burning with desire for more and more, tempted easily by Satan. Christ said that to look at another with desire is as good as adultery. I speak of course, of a general observation. People are burning with lust and never satisfied. That seems to be the state of things and who can still escape it? Who stands innocent still? 

This alone is enough to bend every knee in repentance before the Lord our GOD. This alone is enough to know that we need Salvation from ourselves, as the flesh burns with desire, and mankind has lost all self control. It has become a profitable business for the forces of darkness, and man will hear no reason to bring himself to a place of repentance. It is common and has become the way of our age. 

And then the words in the book of revelation rings through me like alarm bells, "...and they repented not..." How does love win out, when love is misunderstood? No! The union of man and woman has become a contract of expectancies, a record for the state. How then do we judge our children for not wanting to get married, when they stood witness to how we treated each other? Show me benevolence, what has marriage become then? 

No friends, if you want kind words about marriage, you won't find it with me, as long as we are wed in the ways of this fallen state of the world. It is not what GOD intended when he made a man for his wife and a woman for her husband. Do you expect me to call the fires on the warfront campfires, where families can prepare their meals? No! It is the very evidence of hate and destruction. To me it seems that war has come to every household and that is a war of self-interest. We should all just fall to our knees right now in repentance. Too many excuses and too many justifications for nothing other than selfishness and hate. This is not how it should be. 

All I see are victims of war and war crimes, as hate is fueled more and more. My heart cries for the children and lives destroyed. 

May GOD have mercy on us all, and send Salvation as an Act of GOD. Yes, we need a Savior in this too. 

May the LORD Bless and Keep us for the sake of His Name. 

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Can we start at home first, please? 

Shalom

Verse of the Day

(YouVersion)

‭Hebrews 13:8 KJV‬

[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 

https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.13.8.KJV

Scripture Contribution

By a Brother in the Faith for today

‭Psalm 50:16-23 KJV‬

[16] But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? [17] Seeing thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee. [18] When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, And hast been partaker with adulterers. [19] Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit. [20] Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; Thou slanderest thine own mother's son. [21] These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. [22] Now consider this, ye that forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. [23] Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: And to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.50.16-23.KJV