Stay as You Are

If you are unmarried or you are widowed, stay that way. There is no reason to get in a hurry to change your current relationship status. You should be focusing your desire on the LORD and not on another partner.

“³⁷But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.” – 1 Corinthians 7:37 (ESV)

In this passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul is speaking directly to those who may have lost a spouse or those who may be engaged to be married. The above verse is referencing the idea that our desire should be in check, either we satisfy our physical desire by marrying so we can get back to desiring the LORD, or that we have our desire on the LORD and our physical wants are of much less consequence. Either way, our desire should be on the LORD and not on the physical.

I know for me, it is great to have a wife of 28 years that satisfies my physical wants. I do not need to look elsewhere and can focus on the LORD with my desire. I am content staying where I am. I know of others who have been engaged for a good time and are content to stay there as they grow spiritually. I recently witnessed a couple engaged to be married who have focused on the LORD and one of them was baptized, declaring publicly dedication to the LORD and the other in the relationship was beaming with joy. I say all of this in that the LORD would rather us stay where we are than get caught up in the wants of the flesh. But, make no mistake, that if being married helps with satisfying the physical so that one can get back to the desire of the LORD, then marriage is good, as long as it is rooted in the LORD.

All we do should be for the benefit of your relationship with the LORD. It is not for our own wants physically. It is for the glory of the LORD. Whether that is being married or remaining single, all is to keep us focused on the LORD. I say, stay where you are and get your desire for the LORD to the top of your things to do list before another.

What are you focused on in relationships? Are you looking to fully satisfy your physical at all costs? What if you were to take the approach to stay where you are and focus your desire on the LORD before another?