Today’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
Choices! What about the choices you’ve made in the past week, even today? How did it go? Was it something like this? You begin by determining what your options are. How many viable choices do you have? Next, you take some time to project what the results will be for each one, both short-term and long-term. Then you select one, and act on it.
But, it’s not quite that simple, is it? In addition to weighing the practical implications, you weigh the ethical ones as well. And after you select one, you may realize there’s an additional option you weren’t previously aware of. So, then you need to project, as well as is humanly possible, what the results would be, and compare it to the other options, perhaps after you’ve already started down the road of your previously selected path. It’s so challenging, because, if you’re like me, you want to find the perfect choice, but the only problem with that is that there aren’t any perfect choices in this life! You have to be able to live with the disadvantages of your choice, as well as the advantages. On top of all this, once you embark on carrying out a choice, conditions may change, or facts may emerge you weren’t previously aware of. So, you then you may need to further develop your analysis.
Now before you think, “This writer is SO cerebral! He reminds me of Data” (of Star Trek: The Next Generation). No, I’m not really that way! It’s just that I’ve been burned so many times by making decisions that I thought were adequately thought through, only to later discover that they required more awareness, more analysis. So if I can help you avoid that same fate, then I’ll be happy! I think it comes down to this: making good, sound decisions is difficult! It’s challenging! We all need help with them! The old saying, “Hindsight is 20/20” certainly applies here! For since the beginning of time, humanity has struggled with improving the clarity of our foresight!
I think the Corinthians were struggling with decisions. They had a cultural issue about virgins and marriage, and it was evidently quite complicated. There was a crisis which Paul spoke of in verse 26, which must have made the choices even harder to make. So they evidently had written Paul and asked him what he thought, and 1 Corinthians 7 contains his answer.
And it’s not any easier to face tough decisions today, is it? Life is often like driving through the “Spaghetti Bowl” portion of the I-65 and I-70 interstate in Indianapolis. Things happen fast and often unexpectedly, often requiring split-second decisions. In life, we often have to make quick decisions like this, needing God to help us in a spontaneous-type of decision-making. However, there are many issues in which we have days, even weeks, to make our choice. In those cases we can take advantage of that time by spending time with the Source of wisdom — God — and asking for our Father/Mother’s help, step-by-step.
The Book of Proverbs describes wisdom as adornment for our souls; and it says that when we employ it, we will not be afraid, and that our sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:19, 21, 22, 24; NRSV). One word of realism, though: wise choices don’t guarantee a trouble-free life. Even when we make the wisest decision possible, random misfortune can still strike us. And even the process of carrying out a wise choice can be hijacked and end badly. However, wisdom undoubtedly makes our lives more effective and more fruitful, enabling us to carry out our number one mission in life: to be more loving!
Thought for the day: We may picture God as “way up there in heaven,” and us poor humans down here on earth, begging for God to hand down to us a little morsel of divine wisdom. But no! God is IN us! Therefore, God’s wisdom and love live inside of us! May we always remember that reality, and may it give us confidence and strength!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.