Friday, May 27 – 1 Corinthians 7:35

I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

In several of our devotionals this week, we’ve seen how we were made for relational community with one another and how sin desires to push us out of this community. However, just being in a relationship isn’t a guarantee of rightfully honoring God’s image. Unhealthy, one-sided relationships can be marked by abuse. People can take advantage of each other in close relationships. Sin can derail our relationships into bearing our own image or the image of someone else rather than God’s.

The apostle Paul showed that the relational community we were created for wasn’t just to be between us and mankind, but also between us and God. Paul noted how unhealthy relationships on earth can pull us apart from a healthy relationship with God, and we should value a right relationship with God above all else. Even when we’re in healthy earthly relationships, they are not to distract from our devotion to God.

The other thing to note from Paul here is he didn’t consider one’s relationship status on earth as being a restraint. It is actually to one’s benefit, Paul argued, to be single and undistracted from the things of God. Whether single or married, our relationships with one another should flow from our relationship with God, the main relationship we were created for. Whether you’re single, dating, engaged, or married, may the relationships you have with one another glorify God and encourage you to grow in your relationship with Him.

• How can you serve those who are single around you?
• How can you glorify God in your singleness or married relationship today?
• Pray and ask God to show you how to serve those who are single around you and encourage them in their walk with Jesus.