Faithfulness in Relationships: A Spiritual Perspective

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the intricate teachings of 1 Corinthians 7, drawing parallels between a seemingly complex game and the Apostle Paul's guidance on relationships. The game, "Polar Bears Around the Ice Hole," served as a metaphor for understanding the central question Paul addresses: What does it mean to be spiritual as a believer? Just as the game revolves around a central rule, Paul's teachings in this chapter revolve around the core question of spirituality and faithfulness in relationships.

Paul addresses various topics, including marriage, divorce, singleness, and calling, all of which circle around the central question of what it means to live a spiritual life. He emphasizes that changing one's status—whether through circumcision, social standing, or marital status—does not make one more special to God. Instead, Paul encourages believers to remain in the condition they were called, highlighting that our spiritual standing is not dependent on external changes but on our faithfulness to God's commandments.

For those who are married, Paul provides clear guidance: stay in your marriage, strive for reconciliation, and sanctify your family. He underscores the sacredness of marriage, reminding us that it is a covenant before God, where two become one flesh. Divorce, he explains, is not part of God's original design, and the tearing apart of a marriage is a violent act against the unity God intended.

Paul also addresses the complexities of spiritually divided marriages, urging believers to remain with their unbelieving spouses if possible, as their presence brings a sanctifying influence to the family. He encourages prayer, patience, and the pursuit of reconciliation, emphasizing that our actions within marriage should reflect the grace and love of Christ.

Ultimately, the message calls us to honor God through our marriages, recognizing that the path to spiritual growth and godliness is found in faithfulness to our commitments and in the sanctification of our families. The grass is not greener on the other side; instead, we are called to nurture and serve where we are planted, reflecting God's love and grace in our relationships.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Spirituality in Relationships: The core question in 1 Corinthians 7 is about spirituality and faithfulness. Our spiritual standing is not determined by external changes but by our commitment to God's commandments. This understanding helps us navigate complex relational issues with a focus on faithfulness. [13:10]

2. The Sacredness of Marriage: Marriage is a covenant where two become one flesh, and it is not to be taken lightly. Divorce is a violent act against this unity, and believers are called to honor their marriage vows as a reflection of God's design. [23:59]

3. Staying and Striving for Reconciliation: For those who are married, the call is to stay in the marriage and strive for reconciliation. This involves prayer, patience, and pursuing unity, reflecting the grace and love of Christ in the relationship. [36:42]

4. Sanctifying Influence in Families: Believers in spiritually divided marriages are encouraged to remain with their spouses, as their presence brings a sanctifying influence. This involves sharing the gospel and modeling faithfulness to Christ within the family. [42:59]

5. Reflecting Christ's Love and Grace: Our actions in marriage should mirror the grace and love of Christ. Just as God took the initiative to restore our relationship with Him, we are called to make the first move in pursuing reconciliation and unity in our relationships. [47:16]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:48] - Introduction to the Game
- [04:27] - Playing the Game Together
- [06:06] - Revealing the Game's Rule
- [07:26] - Transition to 1 Corinthians 7
- [13:10] - Central Question of Spirituality
- [14:36] - Paul's Guidance on Status
- [16:26] - Staying in Your Calling
- [19:14] - Marriage and Spirituality
- [20:56] - The Lord's Command on Marriage
- [22:24] - Jesus' Teaching on Divorce
- [23:59] - God's Design for Marriage
- [26:03] - The Violence of Divorce
- [27:21] - Exceptions and Church Views
- [29:11] - Church's Stance on Divorce
- [30:07] - Spiritually Divided Marriages
- [32:55] - Addressing Sexual Immorality
- [34:13] - The Binding Covenant of Marriage
- [36:42] - Striving for Reconciliation
- [38:29] - Praying for Your Spouse
- [39:55] - Pursuing Your Spouse
- [41:00] - Patience in Marriage
- [41:58] - Sanctifying Your Family
- [42:59] - The Sanctifying Influence
- [44:17] - Sharing the Gospel in Marriage
- [44:56] - Faithfulness and Service
- [45:41] - Honoring God Through Marriage
- [47:16] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-24
- Matthew 19:3-9
- Malachi 2:16

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Observation Questions:

1. What central question does Paul address in 1 Corinthians 7, and how does it relate to the concept of spirituality? [13:10]

2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the metaphor "Polar Bears Around the Ice Hole" in understanding Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 7? [07:26]

3. How does Paul advise believers to approach their current life status, such as marriage or social standing, in relation to their spiritual life? [14:36]

4. What does Paul say about the role of a believing spouse in a spiritually divided marriage? [42:59]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 challenge the idea that changing one's external status can enhance one's spiritual standing? [16:26]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that marriage is a reflection of God's design and covenant? How does this understanding impact the view on divorce? [23:59]

3. How does the concept of sanctification play a role in spiritually divided marriages, according to Paul's teachings? [42:59]

4. What implications does the sermon draw from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 19 regarding the sacredness of marriage and the issue of divorce? [22:24]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current life status. How can you focus on faithfulness to God's commandments rather than seeking external changes to feel more spiritual? [14:36]

2. If you are married, how can you actively work towards reconciliation and unity in your relationship, especially during times of conflict? Consider specific actions you can take this week. [36:42]

3. For those in spiritually divided marriages, what steps can you take to be a sanctifying influence in your family? How can you share the gospel and model faithfulness to Christ? [42:59]

4. How can you honor the sacredness of marriage in your own life or in the lives of those around you? What practical steps can you take to support and uphold the covenant of marriage? [23:59]

5. Consider a relationship in your life that may be strained or broken. What would it look like for you to take the first step towards reconciliation, mirroring the grace and love of Christ? [47:16]

6. How can you cultivate patience and grace in your marriage or relationships, recognizing that change often takes time? What specific prayer or action can you commit to this week? [41:00]

7. Reflect on the idea that "the grass is not greener on the other side." How can you nurture and serve in your current situation, making the most of where you are planted? [45:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Spirituality Beyond External Changes
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul emphasizes that spirituality is not about external changes like marital status or social standing but about faithfulness to God's commandments. He encourages believers to remain in the condition they were called, underscoring that our spiritual standing is rooted in our commitment to God rather than external circumstances. This perspective helps us navigate complex relational issues with a focus on faithfulness and spiritual integrity. By understanding that our worth is not tied to external changes, we can find peace and purpose in our current situations, trusting that God values our faithfulness above all. [13:10]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to seek validation through external changes? How can you refocus on faithfulness to God's commandments today?


Day 2: The Covenant of Marriage
Marriage is a sacred covenant where two become one flesh, reflecting God's design for unity and commitment. Paul reminds us that divorce is a violent act against this unity, urging believers to honor their marriage vows. This teaching calls us to view marriage not as a contract but as a divine covenant that mirrors God's unwavering commitment to us. By understanding the sacredness of marriage, we are encouraged to nurture and protect this bond, recognizing it as a reflection of God's love and faithfulness. [23:59]

Malachi 2:15-16 (ESV): "Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth."

Reflection: How do you view your marriage or future marriage? What steps can you take to honor it as a sacred covenant before God?


Day 3: Striving for Reconciliation
Paul calls those who are married to stay in their marriages and strive for reconciliation, reflecting the grace and love of Christ. This involves prayer, patience, and the pursuit of unity, even in challenging circumstances. By embodying Christ's love, we can work towards healing and strengthening our relationships, recognizing that reconciliation is a powerful testimony of God's grace. This teaching encourages us to take the initiative in mending broken relationships, trusting that God can bring restoration and unity. [36:42]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation? What steps can you take today to pursue unity and reflect Christ's love?


Day 4: Sanctifying Influence in Families
Believers in spiritually divided marriages are encouraged to remain with their spouses, as their presence brings a sanctifying influence to the family. This involves sharing the gospel and modeling faithfulness to Christ within the household. By living out our faith in our families, we can be a source of spiritual growth and encouragement, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love. This teaching challenges us to be intentional in our witness, trusting that God can use our faithfulness to impact those around us. [42:59]

1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV): "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."

Reflection: How can you be a sanctifying influence in your family today? What specific actions can you take to model Christ's love and faithfulness?


Day 5: Reflecting Christ's Love and Grace
Our actions in marriage should mirror the grace and love of Christ, taking the initiative to restore relationships just as God did with us. This involves making the first move in pursuing reconciliation and unity, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love. By reflecting Christ's grace, we can bring healing and restoration to our relationships, serving as a testament to God's redemptive work in our lives. This teaching calls us to be proactive in embodying Christ's love, trusting that our efforts can lead to lasting change and unity. [47:16]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: In what ways can you take the initiative to reflect Christ's love and grace in your relationships today? How can you actively pursue reconciliation and unity?

Quotes



Now, why in the world do we play this game together?That's the age old question. I don't know. No, I'm just kidding. What we are dealing with in first Corinthians chapter seven is kind of like this game.What do you mean, Jeremy? What, why, how could first Corinthians seven be like this game? Well, in first Corinthians seven, Paul addresses a number of different topics. If you were here last week, we spent some time talking about sexual intimacy within a marriage. It's one maybe last Sunday, you're, you're blushing a little bit. We're talking about sex in church.we don't do that well your pastor had to talk to all of you about it so we're in this together all right from there Paul is going to deal with topics like divorce and remarriage he's going to talk about singleness at the end of the chapter and and then within all of this he kind of throws this off -topic thing in of calling and he uses examples like circumcision and being a slave or a freedman you're you're like hold on like you almost can contract with what Paul's talking about in this chapter if he just kept it and relating to singleness and and widows and those who are married you're like maybe Paul's just doing kind of a treatise on relationships and marriage but then that little curveball that he throws in with the the calling issues kind of makes us wonder what exactly is going on and it's helpful for us the reason this this chapter is like the game that we just played is because it can be confusing to figure out how all of these all of these different things that Paul is talking about fit together if we just look at them as individual topics they begin to make more sense when we understand [00:09:13] (112 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


Verse 12, he goes on to say, to the rest I say, I, not the Lord. That if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean. But as it is, they're holy.But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases, the brother or sister is not enslaved. God's called you to peace.For how do you know wife whether you will save your husband? How do you know husband whether you will save your wife? And so Paul, out of the gate, is saying, listen, the Lord has commanded that for those who are married, you should stay with your spouse. The wife shouldn't separate from her husband. The husband shouldn't separate from his wife. That's the Lord's [00:20:47] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


Now, that said, I know that there are difficult times and that some may find themselves where they would say, well, that ship sailed. I'm already divorced. What then?What are we supposed to do? And Paul says in verse 11, you basically have two options, right? That if you're divorced, you're separated from your husband, you should remain unmarried or else seek reconciliation. with your spouse.And so for those who are married, Paul's word is first, say in your marriage, second, strive for reconciliation. That's your objective. That's your goal. That's your command. Those are the two options you have set before you today. And I just want to share briefly a couple of ways you can seek for or strive for that reconciliation. And I'm going to say outright now that I think these are ways that we can strive for reconciliation in our marriages, even if you're not holding on by a thread, by a thread,And even not if you are already divorced. But these are ways for those of you who are saying, I'm in a good and strong and healthy marriage, strive for reconciliation because you're still going to have disagreements. You're still going to have strife. You're still going to have arguments. And so these ways, first, I want to encourage you to pray for your spouse. Pray for your spouse.James 5 .17 says that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. If that's true, you ought to pray.If the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it's working, pray for your spouse and pray for them, not that they would just make you happy. Pray that they wouldn't just make your life simple and easy. Don't pray that they would just quit being idiots or being frustrating or being annoying. You pray for their very good.You pray for your reconciliation. You pray for unity in that relationship. So if you're in a place where you're like, my marriage today does not look like what I envision marriage to look like, pray for unity in your marriage.Pray for unity and oneness in that marriage, that you'd be of one mind, of one mission, of one goal, that you would live life functioning as one the way that God says that you are. Pray for that. Pray to that end. Work towards that end.I encourage you to pray for your spouse's good. Pray for their good. We shouldn't be praying that God would give judgment and beat them up. They should get. They should get what they deserve. Pray that they would honor God. That's back in our passage in verse 19, right? Because what matters is keeping the commandments of God. So you pray that your spouse would honor God. You pray that your spouse would do what's right before God. You pray that they have a right relationship with Him.Pray for their salvation, if that's applicable. Right? That's this whole issue with the spiritually divided marriage. Pray that this person may come to faith. You don't know.You don't know what God may be doing quietly in the background. You don't know how God may be working in and through you to change the life of your spouse. You don't know. So don't give up. Keep praying for them. And pray that God would change their hearts.And I can [00:36:18] (0 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


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Transcript
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