1 Corinthians 7:29-31 English Standard Version

²⁹ This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, ³⁰ and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, ³¹ and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Here Paul is speaking to a particular group of people, the unmarried and the widowed. Much of what we all feel is spoken about here. Mourning, rejoicing, buying and selling and dealing with life in a world that is ever changing are aspects we all encounter. It feels like this advice should fit everyone but it was only given to a specific group of people. We must be careful not to misapply God’s word because of the sound. Not every word is meant specifically for us.

What might be intriguing in these passages is the term “this world is passing away.” We must look at it from the standpoint of the people that Paul is addressing and not our own. What that means for them has nothing to do with us at this time in our lives. We can view history and see how the world has changed and the world passing away for them has already happened.

We need not heed the advice given to the unmarried and widowed here. We should seek what the Lord would have us do in our own present situation, at this time in history. Times have changed and taking advice meant for a people that lived nearly 2000 years ago, might not be the best advice.

How do we use God’s Word to direct our lives in the here and now since so much of the world has changed? How does His Word apply to us now?

2 Corinthians 10:12-14 English Standard Version

¹² Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

¹³ But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

While looking into the value of being somewhat proud these passages appeared. Boasting has it limits but also has its purpose. Paul lists one limit here which is important and that is in the area of assigned influence. The term overextending might be seen as not going too far and yet going just far enough to reach some who might accept the gospel for the first time.

It is interesting that this applies to first contact for if we seek to talk to the lost we might find that we were not the first to approach them. If those who came before us did not plant the seed on fertile ground, it is an opportunity to have a discussion about what happened during and after the first seeding.

Two issues come to mind about their first encounter. What seed was offered and what was the condition of the soil? If their hearts were prepared to receive and the wrong gospel was presented, this is an opportunity to discuss why they rejected that first seeding. If it was the right seed and the wrong time, then the conversation shifts to what has happened in their lives after that first seeding.

What is important in “bring it” is our recognition of their condition, their thoughts and influences and experiences that might show some cracks in the soil where some watering may need to be done.