“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
The Basket Case Chronicles #76
“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: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is a 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. 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 you may attend upon the Lord without distraction” (1 Cor. 7:32-35).
We have already pointed out that Paul believed the unmarried state created the possibility of “traveling light” during times of persecution, which Paul knew were on the way. He recommends that state, because of these circumstances, if it is possible. At the same time, Paul is realistic. A person without giftedness in celibacy, who falls periodically into immorality, would be better off with a wife and family during the persecution than with his browser history of porn sites in a time of persecution. Get married rather than sin, Paul teaches. But if you are truly able to stay clean, traveling light during that time of history was truly the way to go.
He explains this from both the vantage of the man and the woman. An unmarried man can focus on spiritual things entirely, the things of the Lord (v. 32). This shows that Paul is talking about someone dedicated to celibacy for spiritual reasons, not someone addicted to singleness, for selfish reasons. The married man has earthly responsibilities (which Paul elsewhere requires him to pick up), and those responsibilities involve pleasing his wife. He says this is “of the world,” not in the sense of “worldly,” but rather in the sense of earthly. The same thing is true of the married woman. She cares for the things “of the world” too, how she might please her husband (v. 34). Her responsibilities are earthly, not worldly.
He says that the unmarried virgin is holy (set apart) in both body and spirit, in a way that enables her to care for the things of the Lord. Married believers are also holy, also consecrated, but the dedication is routed differently. Virginity is not exalted as a timeless principle of worth, but there are times when it makes perfect sense. Paul is not trying to trip anybody up (v. 35), but rather wants to profit them in a tough time.