May 19, 2002

A PROPER GIFT OF GOD

1 Corinthians 7:7

 

   In 1 Corinthians 6:18 Paul wrote "Flee fornication! Every sin that a man does is outside the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body." In chapter 7 he answered questions regarding the married state, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (7:1-2). In verse 7 he expressed his preference, "I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that." The context is clear that "this manner" would be the celibate life such as Paul practiced, and "that manner" would be the married life. Thus both these states are called a "proper gift of God." Marriage must not be regarded as a concession made to control an uncontrollable desire. By no means! Marriage is a "proper gift of God"!

   Who said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make an help meet for him"? (God did in Genesis 3:18.) Who wrote, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge"? (Heb. 13:4). While the married state is surely God's plan for the vast majority, Paul said of his own celibate state, "Now concerning the unmarried I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful" (1 Cor. 7:25). He was faithful in his celibate state but wrote regarding others, "let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry" (1 Cor. 7:36).

   When the Lord explained God's disapproval of the divorce practices of the Pharisees and reviewed God's plan for marriage, His own disciples remarked that if marriage were that binding, "it is good not to marry." To this the Lord listed three kinds of eunuchs: those born disabled, those castrated by men, and those who "made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake" (Mt. 19:12). Like Paul, the Lord explained a caution, "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." He means only certain ones will be able to properly practice the celibate state here referred to as "made themselves eunuchs." Let us each practice our own "proper gift of God" in sanctification and honor.

 

Ivan L. Burgener