“8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” – 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 (ESV)
Paul is speaking to the Corinthians at this point and setting a few things straight as well as giving them sound biblical teachings. The Corinthians believed, at this time, that all sex was a sin and were avoiding marriage to avoid the sin.
Paul lets them know that sex out of wedlock is a sin, not sex in and of itself. Verses 8-9 lay out how to give in to the sexual desires of us as human. Doing things the right way by committing to the person is the better way to go.
I want to be careful and quote the commentary from my NIV Bible: “This does not mean, however that people who have trouble controlling themselves should marry the first person who comes along. It is better to deal with the pressures of desire than to deal with an unhappy marriage.” So, do not marry for sex, but commit to the right way.
We find ourselves in a number of situations where we are struggling with what to do and simply give in to our desire. It is up to us to research and find the “right way” to approach and commit to taking that appropriate action to be better.
When you are experiencing desire, what is your first tendency? Are you looking for the opportunity to give into the desire and maybe find yourself sinning? What if you looked for the right way and commit for the sake of better?
Trevor's Thoughts 