Better To Marry Than To Burn

carpecollum@gmail.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:15:43 GMT

In my reading yesterday, I ran across 1 Cor. 7:8-9 (NASB95):

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

It struck me that self-control is an oft-mentioned virtue in scripture. Remember in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23), "gentleness, self-control..." Remember in the list of things to add to our faith (2 Pet. 1:6), "and in your knowledge, self-control..." Remember Paul argued before Felix about "righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come" (Acts 24:25).

We might look at someone who does not have self-control in an area of their life (i.e. alcohol abuse, drug abuse, sexual immorality, anger, etc) and tend to see them as exceptionally weak. I have noticed with myself that I have short patience with some of these people who deal with sinful addictions.

What would I say to them? "You just need to get over it, pal! You need to reach way down inside you and come up with the strength to overcome this problem." And as I write that, I see several problems with that approach.

1) This response does not teach them to depend on God as they deal with their addiction.

2) This response does not take into account what Paul said here in 1 Cor. 7. If a person has an addiction like this, perhaps he or she needs to take the stumbling block out of the way!

Paul did not say to those who did not have self-control that they should just get over it. He said they should get married so they won't continue to burn with passion. Provide a godly outlet for yourself. Shift some things around in your life so you won't have your addiction staring you in the face all the time.

I ought to be more patient with people, you know?

God bless,

Nathan

Daily Bible Message

Better To Marry Than To Burn