1 Corinthians 7 – The Listening Plan

Devotional

But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

– 1 Corinthians 7:33

Paul in no way discourages this or judges this as wrong; he merely states it as fact. The married individual has more worldly cares and concerns than the unmarried. This does not mean that the married individual is not concerned about the things of the Lord and how he may please the Lord. Rather the married man or woman has a twofold concern. The distraction is a real, though I would agree with Darrin Patrick, in his book Church Planter, when he writes, “Your wife and your children (if you have them) are God’s sanctified distractions from ministry idolatry.”

A wife and children are sanctified distractions. But they are still somewhat distracting. Paul, as a single man, could serve the Lord without the hinderance of such distractions, and he clearly found that to be a good thing. Even a thing he would encourage others to do as well. That is, if they could.

On the other hand, it is important to remember the words of the Proverbs. “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” I have found this to be very true, and am grateful for the sanctified distractions that are my wife and kids.