1 Corinthians Week 15

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:20-22 

²⁰ Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. ²¹ Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. ²² And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. 

Paul emphasized how believers should stay in their present situation at the time they trusted in Jesus as Savior. Even a slave should continue as he was but realize he is free in Jesus. The slave needed to realize that his master had changed from an earthly one to a heavenly one. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize that if you have trusted in Jesus as Savior that now “you are a slave of Christ”? It is a love relationship unlike what earthly slaves had.  

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading Ephesians 6:5-8. This passage also tells about how the perspective of slaves should change after they have trusted in Jesus for salvation. Talk with your friend about how this applies to the employee/employer relationship.  

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:23-24 

²³ God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. ²⁴ Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you. 

Earthly slaves knew all about their masters paying a price for them. This transferred them from one earthly master to another one. Paul used this example to remind them that God had paid a high price for them so they should not let people enslave them. Again Paul reminded them to “remain as you were when God first called you.” 

REFLECT 

Think about the high price God paid for you. It was by sending His own Son to die on the cross for you. Now you have a new Master because you belong to Jesus after trusting in Him. 

RESPOND 

The slaves were aware of the Greek word for “buy” in regard to being bought in the market place. Greek also put a preposition on front of the word that meant “out of” or “from.” It would refer to them being bought out of the market place of sin. The word is used in Galatians 3:13 and 4:5 referring to being bought out from under the penalty of the law.  

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:25 

²⁵ Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you. 

Paul turned to answer another question the Corinthian believers had asked him. It had to do with young unmarried women. Some take this to refer to all young single women; others take this to refer to a father of a young single daughter. Should he give her away in marriage or not? Paul did not have a direct command from Jesus about this, but as an apostle writing by inspiration he could share his counsel. 

REFLECT 

Perhaps you have wondered about the same question the Christians were asking Paul. If so, you will be interested in his answer. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how to counsel young women who may wonder about the question Paul is about to answer. This shows how practical the topics in 1 Corinthians 7 are today. 

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:26-28 

²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are. ²⁷ If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married. ²⁸ But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems. 

Paul gave his reasons for the unmarried to stay as they were. He was concerned about the condition of society around them. As mentioned, previously, Corinth was a sex-saturated society with all kinds of immorality. Some think it could not have been worse than current conditions today, but his counsel would apply to today also. 

REFLECT 

Whatever your marital status today, Paul’s advice remains spiritually wise. 

RESPOND 

Paul was giving practical advice when he said that those who get married will have troubles. Each believer should desire to place God first in life, but marriage adds an element that detracts many, as the present divorce rate shows. Both mates need to keep God in first place in life. 

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 

²⁹ But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. ³⁰ Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. ³¹ Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. 

Paul gave reasons for his counsel about marriage. The time is short, he said. Notice that he expected the Lord could return for believers at any time. He was not thinking prophecies had to be fulfilled before that time. If that was true in his time, think of how much shorter the time is now. He also warned about not being absorbed in the world’s possessions because they would soon pass away. Although believers are in the world and have possessions, they should not permit the things of the world to possess them. God is to be first in their lives. 

REFLECT 

Think of the complexities of life and how they compete with the believer desiring to put God first.  

RESPOND 

With a friend read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This passage tells about Jesus returning in the air to bring back with Him believers who have died. Their glorified bodies will be brought forth at that time. It also tells of the catching up (rapture) of believers living at that time.