Have you ever asked someone a question only to get more than you asked for? That’s what the Corinthians must have felt like because now Paul is going to start answering their questions that they wrote Paul about. Please read 1 Corinthians 7:1-7. Now in response to the matters that you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex.” (Vs 1 CSB) There are several matters that the Corinthians wrote about and this is the first one. We do not know the exact question that was asked but Paul’s response is clear. Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife (woman) and each woman should have her own husband (man). We learn from Genesis chapter one where God created man in his own image that he created them male and female. (Gen. 1:27) Everything in God’s created order worked like he wanted it to until man and woman rebelled against God because they wanted to be like God and not have to depend on him for anything. Marriage is God’s creation as well. Sex is God’s creation as well and also a gift to be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage according to God’s plan. Paul’s response gives the reason for why some people should get married. Temptation is designed to draw a person away from the will and command of God. James instructs us, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:12-15) Satan is the one that tempted Eve in the garden of Eden. The eye sees something that it wants, maybe it cannot have. Then thoughts begin to percolate in a person’s mind. The next thing you know a person acts on those thoughts and sin has been given birth and then comes death. This happens because of the lack of self-control. Self control is part of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22-23. The first fruit is love. When a husband and wife are both surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives and marriage they discover that there is an equality in the marriage and also a created order at work in the marriage the way the Lord created it. Ephesians 5:21-26 is a great passage of Scripture to study on the created order of the home. We often fail to understand that when a couple is intimate with each other they are reflecting a spiritual truth that takes place in heaven within the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all equal in that they are God and at the same time there is a hierarchy within the Godhead. The only time a married couple should abstain from sexual relations is when they agree to it. Notice the passage of Scripture gives the reason for the purpose of prayer. After the agreed upon time period they are to come together again so that Satan may not tempt them because of their lack of self-control. When was the last time you stopped and asked the Lord to help you to reflect him in your marriage? Please take some time this week to thank the good Lord for the gift of intimacy that he has given us to enjoy in the covenant of marriage. Jesus is inviting you to follow him will you?
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