1 Corinthians 7:25-31 The World Passes Away!

1 Corinthians 7:25-31  Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.  Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.  Are you married?  Do not seek a divorce.  Are you unmarried?  Do not look for a wife.  But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.  But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.  What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.  From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.  For this world in its present form is passing away.

The idea of holding this world lightly is an on-going focus in the Bible.  Living for God preeminently while living for ourselves less represents a major theme of  the New Testament.  We see in the Old Testament where God is intimately involved with the tent people going through the desert to the Promised Land.  He is there at night as fire and each day as a cloud to remind them he is an intricate part of their journey to the land He has prepared for them.  Their tent lives were constantly on the move, following the Spirit of God every day.  We who are alive now should be as those tent people, ready to move as the Spirit leads.  In the above passage, Paul reminds us our lives should not be attached to this world in a permanent fashion.  We should be able to pull up our tent stakes quickly if the Lord desires us to move.  What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.  From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.  Why?  For this world in its present form is passing away.   To nail our lives down to this Earth and the things of this Earth is foolishness to Paul for he knows them to be only temporary.  He knows there is no eternal value in anything that is fixed to this earth.  Likewise, Peter wrote:  Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  (1 Peter 2:11)  These godly men knew heaven and Earth will pass away someday.  All that is of this world will turn to nothing, so why live so passionately to establish a foundation here.  Instead, Paul beseeches believers to put their treasures and hearts' desires on things above, not on things below.  He asks the church in Corinth to look above the horizon, above the institutions of this world, to fix their eyes on the true purpose of living, on God's plans for them: to allow the Holy Spirit to make them into sons and daughters of the Most High. 

Over the centuries, the message that Christians must redeem the time has been an integral part of Christian dogma.  What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.  The urgency of accepting Christ, living for him, and sharing your faith with others represents the salvation message we proclaim.  Paul makes this clear in his second letter to the Corinthians: As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.  (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)   Today is the day of salvation is a major theme for just as it was for the early church.  Do not wait for tomorrow, Paul clearly says; for tomorrow might be too late for you.  Paul wants the Corinthian Christians to live a "today" life, functioning in the now, doing what God calls them to do.  He asks them to stay as they are in Christ, so Christ will be magnified in their lives.  His passion for them is to have their lives centered on Christ now and not on things of this world or on themselves.  Paul knew lives burning for Christ rather than engrossed in secular interests would bring glory to God and advance the kingdom of light.  He knew such lives would be a huge contrast to the barbarian world of darkness and sin where everyone was going his or her own way.  John described the world of darkness when he wrote: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  (John 3:19)  Paul knew lives of light, lives committed to Christ in Corinth, would entice many to the message of hope and salvation through Christ.  When great darkness permeates people's existence, lives committed to Christ will shine brightly in contrast with that darkness.  Paul wanted them to consider themselves as living in tents, holding nothing here so dearly that Christ's life in them would take a back seat.   

Are we living a "today" life, viewing our homes as tents we can move easily as God directs?  Or are we so deeply rooted and grounded in this world that we live only for ourselves and the activities that hold us to the earthly realm?  Are we so engrossed in our personal lives and fleshly desires that Christ and our spiritual walk with him take a back seat?  Is He an afterthought that comes to us when we feel guilty for neglecting him?  Does He come first only during a time of trial when we bargain with him, making promises that we soon break, going back to our lazy, self-centered ways?  When chastising the Pharisees, Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  (Matthew 15:8)  Paul knew the heart had to stay pure.  Paul was writing to believers, those who had counted the cost and were following Christ in their lives.  He simply wanted them not to become involved in changes that would decrease their spiritual fervor or detract from their commitment to Jesus.  He was keeping them on the right path.  Some of us are in need of a spiritual tune-up so we can travel successfully on the right path.  We have made changes in our lives and strayed from our walk with Jesus to the point He is in second place.  Our allegiance is no longer to him first with all else second.  As we take inventory of our time and the energy we invest each day, we know we are neglecting him and our service to him.  He does not condemn us: He calls us with an everlasting call.  Look back over your lives, and you will see time and time again where He was there to meet your needs, there to receive you into his loving arms.  Today, He reminds you that He does not want to compete with other lovers in your life.  He loves you most of all, and He will never leave you or forsake you.  He says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)