Is God #1?

1 Corinthians 7

This chapter is filled with answers about marriage, divorce, singleness, and sex. That got yout attention! And this should be riveting reading. But when you wade into this chapter you never get a clear sense of what Paul wants us to do. Paul says its OK to do this, but also good to do that. He recommends one thing, but then lets us off the hook by saying that the other option is acceptable as well. And several times he advises us to simply remain in the situation you are in.

There are two reasons for the vagueness of all this:

1. Paul is giving us answers without supplying the questions
2. His advice can be classified as an interim ethic. It's a way to live in the special situation that time is short and the world we are living in will soon pass away. When time is short our priorities get clarified and things that seemed really important lose their luster.

These factors make this passage murky and hard to understand. It is hard to sort out what advice is valid for the 21st century. But one thing we know for sure: Paul's wanted everyone to make pleasing God the #1 priority of their life. Undivided devotion to Him is job one. Everything else pales in comparison.

Where does God rank in your list of priorities?

I'd suggest that we settle this issue right now at the beginning of a new year. You could decide that in 2011 the focus of your life was to please God and give him your full devotion.

What a year it could be!