Today’s Scripture:

25 Now let me address the issue of singleness.[a] I must confess, I have no command to give you that comes directly from the Lord. But let me share my thoughts on the matter, as coming from one who has experienced the mercy[b] of the Lord to keep me faithful to him. 26 Because of the severe pressure we are in,[c] I recommend you remain as you are. 27 If you are married, stay in the marriage. If you are single,[d] don’t rush into marriage. 28 But if you do get married, you haven’t sinned.[e] It’s just that I would want to spare you the problems you’ll face with the extra challenges of being married.

29 My friends, what I mean is this. The urgency of our times mean that from now on, those who have wives should live as though without them. 30 And those who weep should forget their tears. And those who rejoice will have no time to celebrate. And those who purchase items will have no time to enjoy them. 31 We are to live as those who live in the world system but are not absorbed by it, for the world as we know it is quickly passing away. 32 Because of this, we need to live as free from anxiety as possible.

For a single man is focused on the things of the Lord and how he may please him. 33 But a married man is pulled in two directions, for he is concerned about both the things of God and the things of the world in order to please[f] his wife. 34 And the single woman is focused on the things of the Lord so she can be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world and how she may please her husband. 35 I am trying to help you and make things easier for you and not make things difficult, but so that you would have undistracted devotion, serving the Lord constantly with an undivided heart.

36 However, if a man has decided to serve God as a single person, yet changes his mind and finds himself in love with a woman, although he never intended to marry, let him go ahead and marry her; it is not a sin to do so.[g] 37 On the other hand, if a man stands firm in his heart to remain single, and is under no compulsion to get married but has control over his passions and is determined to remain celibate, he has chosen well. 38 So then, the one who marries his fiancée does well and the one who chooses not to marry her does better.

39 A wife is bound by the marriage covenant as long as her husband is living. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry again as she desires—but, of course, he should be a believer in the Lord. 40 However, in my opinion (and I think that I too have the Spirit of God), she would be happier if she remained single.

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