Together We Stand?

Our text for reflection today comes from 1st Corinthians 7:25-35
Let's look to the text:

Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. ²⁶I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are. ²⁷Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that. ²⁹I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, ³⁰and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, ³¹and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; ³³but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, ³⁴and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband. ³⁵I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

This week has truly been historic, and our country has been energized. We have been reminded by our new president that we all need to work together to fix our country's problems and to prepare for our future generations. I believe that Paul was writing to the church at Corinth reminding them that he was speaking from his heart about how we need to come together. Paul was not condemning marriage or relationships but was saying that people are too divided based on their own devotions and desires. For Paul we need to focus more on being devoted to God, and the common good of all people.

One of the themes we have heard during the week has been SERVICE, we have all been asked by our government to give more of ourselves in service to each other. I believe that this is at the heart of our scripture today. During the time that Paul was writing this letter the people of Corinth were in the middle of a great drought, and the country was poor and barren. Paul wanted to unite the Christians and the country so that all would be better off. (sound a little familiar?)

This week and indeed today's text reminds me of the words of JFK " ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" This weekend spend sometime reflecting on how you can become more involved in the lives of others by serving and helping. Let's agree to be more inclusive and less distracted by our own agendas.

Together We do Stand.

Until Tuesday, Be Well

Pastor J.