Epiphany 3 – Jan. 24, 2021 – 1 Cor. 7:29-31
“TIMING – AND OUR PRIORITIES”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 7. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
- Many of us try to live our lives with emotional balance – never too high, never too low. Of course, there are times when we don’t really have a choice – our emotions simply kick in and take over. This may be a time of great glee, or a time of greatest sorrow.
- Likewise, most of us understand what it means to have a sense of timing. Solomon wrote of this in Ecclesiastes 3. We know that human beings go through cycles and shifts in life, that there are appropriate times for us to prepare, appropriate times for us to perform, to do our duty, there are appropriate times to rest, to take time off, and there will be an appropriate time to retire, and ultimately, to die.
- In our text, the apostle sheds light on this – on the way we are to look at our lives in this world, and how we are to think about the normal interactions and relationships we have in this world. And while his instruction is specific, we must understand that the application is rather general – pertaining to all things worldly, the things of the “present form” of this world, which is passing away.
- One author called it having “a holy indifference” to the things of this present world. Stated the other way, we are warned against undue infatuation with the things of this present world. The point is that we are to look at our lives from the perspective of eternal life, and the return of the Lord Jesus – so that we have balance in our lives, and a perspective from which to gauge our priorities.
- The first thing we are reminded of is that:
I. The Time We Have In This Present World Is Short – And We Are To Live Like It
Text: “This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.”
A. We Are To Be Moderating Our Earthly Passions
Text: “Let those who mourn live as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing.”
B. Remembering That The Present Form Of This World Is Passing Away
Text: “For the present form of this world is passing away.”
Statement: Now, we might look back to when Paul wrote this, nearly 2,000 years ago, and conclude that his definition of “very short” is a bit off. His point, however, is not the number of years, but how short all of human history is when compared with eternity. And we who believe in Christ have eternal life. And while we might find 80 years of life expectancy to be quite a period of time, things are no different today than they were back in the days of the psalmist. He wrote: “For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. . . . The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. . . . So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” [Ps. 90:4,10,12]
Application: This is what the apostle is encouraging us to do, the “get a heart of wisdom” by knowing how to “number our days.” For younger people, our end looks so far away that we don’t even bother to consider it. But if we do not learn this wisdom, then our end comes upon us suddenly – and we have omitted living for the most important things, the things of God! Greater joys are soon to come, joys which will comfort all who mourn. So, enough with the mourning, and forget about the smaller joys of earthly life. Balance is everything!
Transition: And it is the same with our activities and responsibilities:
II. We Are To Fulfill Our Earthly Duties With The Right Perspective And Priorities
A. We Are To Love Our Spouse For The Sake Of The Kingdom, Setting The Kingdom As Chief Priority, Including Our Spouse’s Place In It
Text: “From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.”
[We no longer look at our spouse as worldly people do – what can I get out of it, what pleasures do I have? Rather we see our spouse as a precious child of God, a fellow heir of God’s eternal kingdom]
B. We Are Not Forbidden To Mourn, But Told To Mourn As Those With Hope
Text: “Let those who mourn live as though they were not mourning.”
1 Thess. 4:13 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
C. We Are To Be Rejoicing, But Even More At The Thought Of Our Redemption And The Coming Heavenly Things
Text: “Let those who rejoice live as though they were not rejoicing.”
D. And We Are To Engage In Commerce, But Knowing That All Earthly Possessions Are Temporary
Text: “Those who buy should live as though they had no goods.”
1 Tim. 6:6,7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”
E. And In Our Worldly Dealings, We Only Do What Is Good And Right
Text: “Those who deal with the world should live as though they had no dealings with it.”
Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Statement: These two things – that our time for doing good is limited, and that we should therefore take great care in how we prioritize and look at the things of this life – are of great importance and value! They enable us to remember always the grace, mercy, and love of God which has provided us with redemption and eternal salvation! They enable us to remain heavenly minded, looking forward with great joy and anticipation to the return of Christ and the perfect restoration of all things
Application: This in turn enables us to know and to focus on the most important things in our existence – the things that pertain to true and genuine love, and the things of the kingdom of God.
Conclusion: And living with balance and proper order in our lives is a great personal blessing as well, increasing peace and happiness and blessing others. God grant this to us all, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will keep you hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.