1 Corinthians 7:17-40
What exactly was Paul's relationship status?
Did Paul have a low opinion of marriage?
That's how sacred Paul considered the marital relationship to be.
If Paul wasn't anti-marriage, why did he encourage people not to marry?
"Present crisis" can also be translated "impending crisis."
He's just taking a practical approach to managing what could be a challenging situation.
1. As much as is possible, keep your situation in life the same ... at least for now.
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That's not how we define spirituality.
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It's your devotion to Jesus Christ that matters.
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Bloom where you're planted.
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You don't have to jump through anybody's hoop to prove that you belong to Jesus Christ.
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If you have to jump through a hoop to be accepted by the group, you're in the wrong group.
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"I can't be a good Christian until..."
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"I will be faithful to God in this situation, no matter what. And if nothing ever changes, I will still be faithful."
2. If you can make your life better, by all means make it better.
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He's not telling us to become complacent, he's telling us to be content.
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The idea is not that we just accept our lot in life and never make an effort to make life any better.
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Do what works best for all involved.
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He could see which battles were worth fighting and which ones weren't.
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Let's do what works best in the long run for all involved.
3. Maintain a healthy distance from the world around you.
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Jesus said that we are to be in the world, not of it.
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And we do it without allowing this world to shape our values and priorities.
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Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)
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How can I live effectively in this world without allowing the possessions of this world to own me?
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How can I live in this world without allowing the culture of this world to define me?
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How can I be in this world, but never of this world?
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We keep all that the world has to offer at a distance so that we can keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ.
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Do whatever will help you serve the Lord best.
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Focus on doing whatever will help you serve the Lord best.