I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none…For the present form of this world is passing away.” vss. 29, 31b
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Paul, an unmarried man, had no shortage of advice for the Corinthians about marriage. He admits he’s giving his own opinions, and then goes on to say that it’s far better to be unmarried than married, especially if we’re interested in doing the work of the Lord. It’s important to remember that he says this, not as a general rule, but because he really believed that the end was coming soon. As he put it, “the present form of the world is passing away.” Of course that didn’t happen–and celibacy didn’t catch on for the general population, something for which most of us are thankful. But some in our time are wondering again, could it be that the present form of the world is passing away? Perhaps we’ve reached a point where the old values of accumulation and control can be put aside and all humans can embrace kindness and mercy as their primary tools of change. Maybe we’re on the verge of experiencing the peaceable kingdom as envisioned by the prophets of old! Some are already beginning to live that way as the Christ within begins to enlighten their daily living. It’s as more and more of us begin to dream that the destructive forces of this world will lose their powers and be replaced by legions of love.
Thought for the Day: What positive signs of change do I see in the world?
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