Daily Bible Readings and Devotions
1 Corinthians 7:1-9 — If You Abstain
According to relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall, couples argue more about money and sex than anything else. The Bible doesn’t approach the money issue in this chapter but it does approach the subject of sex. I remember a day when such a subject was rarely talked about in church circles and if it was brought up, it was either quickly dismissed or spoken of in a very quiet voice. This was especially unfortunate given the amount of space it is given in God’s Word.
Paul identifies the natural sex drives of humanity, the intimacy involved in the marriage relationship, and the spiritual value of fasting from sexual relations. From this we can glean understanding that sexual relationships are to be maintained in the context of marriage and that they are beneficial to the marriage relationship. The intimacy of sexual relationships is often a key indicator of the true intimacy in a marriage. Verse three points out the responsibility of each spouse to meet the sexual needs of his or her spouse and verse four goes a step further revealing the give and take interaction between spouses. No one except the marriage partner is to have the keys to sexual intimacy with their spouse and they are not to have the keys to sexual intimacy with anyone else.
I am glad Paul brought up the ideas of refraining from sexual activity to concentrate on the Lord during times of fasting. When I have encouraged fasting in congregations I am often asked about fasting from TV or fasting from chocolate or ??? or ???. I don’t think I have ever been asked about fasting from sexual activity. I have spent time with couples where one or the other complained about a spouse withholding from sexual intimacy as a weapon in marriage warfare or in the lacking of intimacy in a marriage, but for spiritual reasons that conversation has not happened. But Paul brought the subject up. The key here is respect for the spouse and their relationship with the Lord.
Sex? The Bible speaks for it in the marriage relationship. The Bible speaks for it as a deterrent from immorality. The Bible speaks for it to enhance intimacy and as a part of intimacy in the marriage relationship. The Bible speaks against it outside of a marriage relationship.
What about frequency? When the subject comes up during marriage counseling, that is usually the primary question. My answer. That is up to the two of you in your marriage relationship. The last thing you should do is let someone else answer that question for you. There are many questions that can only be answered in a marriage relationship between two people and this is one of them.
Prayer Challenge
Be sure and thank God for your fellow laborers in First Baptist Church. The number of divorces in our community and in our congregation in the last year has been staggering. Would you pray specifically for marriages in your prayer time today?
Ministry Challenge
Call a fellow member of your Life Group today and express your appreciation for their service and friendship.
Mission Challenge
Look over your list of prospects for your Life Group and see if you have met someone this week who needs to be added to your list. Pray over this list with a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit for guidance in reaching out to those you are praying for.
Reflection
What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?
What did I say to God?
