Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, addresses several issues in today’s reading, including pride, lawsuits, immorality, marriage, and food offered to idols. A verse from chapter 7 stood out to me: …I want you to…serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. (1 Corinthians 7:35, NLT)
The context involves both singleness and marriage. Paul explains how to serve Christ as a single person and what to do when someone is married. He notes that an unmarried man or woman can dedicate more time and attention to the Lord’s work and how to please Him. In contrast, a married person’s interests are divided between fulfilling their marital responsibilities to their spouse and bandwidth for the Lord’s work.
While Paul supports both singleness and marriage, I am drawn to the idea of serving the Lord with “as few distractions as possible.” Isn’t our age choked with distractions? Hobbies of all kinds await us, whether we are single or married. Materialism, sensualism, and egotism tempt the flesh at every turn. Yet, Paul emphasizes that the time to serve the Lord is short. If it was short then, it remains short today.
Yes, we must attend to the cares of this life. Bills need to be paid, and our duties must be lovingly fulfilled. We should strive to perform them with joyful hearts and all our strength. But how many “distractions” stem from choices outside the necessities and contentment of the kingdom of God? Are we embracing His kingdom with as few distractions as possible, or are we weighed down with building our kingdom?
How can we overcome distractions? Paul provides the answer in Colossians 3:1-2. He speaks to both the mind and the heart. In verse 1, Paul says to …seek those things which are above. The direction of our gaze affects the state of our minds. In verse 2, he instructs us to …set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Overcoming distractions begins with shifting our focus, which influences our affections and what we hold dear. It is easier to say no to distractions when our hearts have given all our affection to only one. I am reminded of Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus… What a powerful way to conquer distractions!
Reflection Point:
Consider how Paul’s emphasis on serving the Lord with fewer distractions can shape our daily choices. How many of our current activities and interests might lie outside the necessities and contentment of the kingdom of God? What are some ways we can shift our focus toward things above, as stated in Colossians 3:1-2?
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible. This devotional reflection is on 1 Corinthians 5-8:13.