We often think that men burn with passion while women are quite proper and controlled. Paul explicitly states that he is unmarried in this passage, maybe he is a widower, and as such he has no ties to another human being in that way. However, he allows for the fact that passions can burn hot and lead toa life of sin that makes the single life serving Christ one of hypocrisy. It is, therefore, essential to be honest with yourself. Do you need to be married so that forbidden passions do not inhibit you?
1 Corinthians 7: 8,9
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Questions
- Who is Paul addressing?
- What does he say to these women?
- What is better than burning with passion?
- If your spouse passed away, would you need to marry to have an outlet for your passions?
- How do you encourage a high view of being single?
Plymothian 