1 Corinthians 7:1-16 Do you have self control?

1 Corinthians 7 NASB

Teaching on Marriage

      1Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6But this I say by way of concession, not of command. 7Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

      8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

      10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband 11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

      12But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. 16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Our world today is full of divorce, couples living together without marriage. 

Is it a wonder....

"that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."?

We have no self control! 

If we did, wouldn't we be righteous?

Paul states; 8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

How true, but our world today is full of lusts and passions. Was this any different than in Jesus' day? Remember the woman at the well?

John 4:18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.

Are you living with someone and not married? Are you running around lustfully? Do you think this pleases God?

To the divorced, what's done is done. We can't change the past. Maybe you aren't successful at relationships. 

Don't let this depress you. 

Maybe God is setting you apart for greater things!

Continually pray to Him for guidance. Be content with God.

To the married, follow Pauls instructions, most of all follow God. After all, it was my wife that saved me and brought me to the Lord. So there is hope! 

This is a hard topic to teach on. We are all affected one way or another. I do not wish to point out anyone's sins as we are all sinners. Let's all keep fresh accounts with God confessing our sins daily and asking for forgiveness.

God is the judge and one day we all will stand in front of Him.

Blessings, David 

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