Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 7:25-33

Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned... I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs-how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world-how he can please his wife...

Paul talked about the teachings on virginity here. The world today views marriage as a castle. Those who are on the outside desperately want to get in, but those on the inside desperately want to get out. Paul clearly teaches us about being single here - it is not necessarily bad to be single. Single people have more freedom to serve the Lord, and have less to worry about. After getting married, people focus on pleasing their spouse, rather than pleasing God. In any case, we should not envy others, but we need to thank God for what we have. On the other hand, we do not need to pressurize others. Those who are married always hope to see other singles get married. However, that is not necessarily right. Some people choose to be single to serve the Lord. As such, we should not pressurize others, but we should learn to follow God's leading and not our own preferences. In fact, the biggest mistake in the marriage is to expect your spouse to make your life meaningful, and to look to your spouse to satisfy all of your needs. This mentality causes conflict, friction and disappointment in marriage. In fact, we must first find meaning in our own life before we can have meaningful relationships.

If you need someone else to make your life meaningful, you will eventually fall into great disappointment. This is the biggest reason for many marriages that end up in bitterness. A lot of people do not have clear direction in life, and they did not find satisfaction in the Lord. Instead they look to their spouse to give them satisfaction. Such marriages will not be complete or happy because only the Lord can bring help and change in our lives. Hence, whether you are single or married, the important thing is to find satisfaction in the Lord. Otherwise, you will never find true happiness.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you because only in you can we find the true meaning and satisfaction in life. May you fill us with your Holy Spirit and open our eyes so that we can see this truth. Help us to run to you so we can find true happiness in you. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!