Reflections with Andy - 1 Corinthians 7: 25-40 – The Throne of Our Heart
Paul continues to teach about marriage today, and he reminds us that nothing, even a good thing like marriage, should sit on the throne of our heart. That is reserved for Jesus
Paul continues to teach about marriage today, and he reminds us that nothing, even a good thing like marriage, should sit on the throne of our heart. That is reserved for Jesus
In today’s episode of Reflections with Andy, we conclude 1 Corinthians 7:25–40 by exploring Paul’s teaching on marriage, singleness, and keeping our priorities in the right order. While Paul speaks into the realities of his own time, his larger message is timeless: even the best gifts in our lives can never take the place of Christ. Whether we’re married or single, our deepest identity and greatest devotion belong to Jesus alone.
Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.
You can read today’s passage here.
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Good morning! It’s good to be with you on this Thursday morning. I hope you’re doing well, and I hope you have some good plans for today.
Our staff here at First United Methodist Church is heading over to the Wesley Foundation at Mississippi State to support one of their fundraisers. If you’re anywhere in the Starkville or Golden Triangle area, I’d encourage you to come by the Wesley Foundation around 11:30. There’ll be good food, good fellowship, and, most importantly, you’ll be supporting the incredible ministry they’re doing with college students here in Starkville.
We’d love to see you there.
Today we’re finishing up 1 Corinthians 7. Paul is still talking about marriage, singleness, widows, and relationships. As I’ve said the last few days, he’s really staying with this subject. But underneath all of these specific instructions is a much larger truth about how we order our lives.
Click here to read the passage.
There are really two things I want us to notice.
First, let’s understand the context of what Paul is saying.
Then let’s ask what that means for us today.
Right at the beginning Paul writes,
“I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are.”
That phrase—“the impending crisis”—is important.
The earliest Christians genuinely believed Jesus could return at any moment.
They lived with the expectation that Christ’s return was imminent.
Because of that, they viewed everything else through that lens.
That’s one reason the Gospels weren’t written immediately after the resurrection. The earliest believers expected Jesus to return so soon that preserving written accounts didn’t seem as urgent at first. As time passed, the Church recognized the need to write down the eyewitness testimony.
So when Paul says it’s fine to remain unmarried, he’s speaking into that expectation.
He’s saying, “If the Lord is about to return, don’t let yourself become consumed with the ordinary concerns of this world.”
Then he says something that’s both humorous and profoundly honest:
“Those who marry will experience distress in this life.”
There are probably a hundred marriage jokes I could make right there, but I’ll spare you.
The truth is, marriage is wonderful.
I love Holly deeply. Anyone who knows me knows how thankful I am that she said “yes.” Every day I thank God for her.
But marriage also stretches you.
You cannot be happily married and remain completely selfish.
Marriage has a way of exposing your impatience...
Your pride...
Your selfishness...
It teaches you to put someone else’s needs ahead of your own.
Our Catholic brothers and sisters call marriage a sacrament.
As United Methodists, we don’t officially use that language, but we’re awfully close.
When I perform a wedding, I hold up the rings and say,
“These rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.”
That’s sacramental language.
Marriage becomes one of the ways God shapes us into people who love more deeply.
It teaches us patience.
Kindness.
Forgiveness.
Sacrifice.
In other words, a healthy marriage helps make us holy.
But here’s where Paul wants to be very careful.
Marriage is a wonderful gift.
It is not God.
Sometimes I think the American church has unintentionally elevated marriage into something it was never meant to be.
We create this picture of the ideal life:
A husband.
A wife.
Two and a half kids.
A dog.
A white picket fence.
And we begin to think that’s the only picture of a faithful Christian life.
Paul says that’s simply not true.
Whether you’re married...
Single...
Widowed...
Or divorced...
Your identity is not determined by your relationship status.
Your identity is determined by Jesus Christ.
Years ago, when I was serving in Ripley, I was talking with my spiritual director.
I made an offhand comment.
I said, “If Holly’s happy, I’m happy.”
He stopped me immediately.
He pointed his finger at me and said,
“No. You’re happy because you’re happy. You’re sad because you’re sad. Your happiness cannot depend on another person.”
At first I thought, “I was just making a joke.”
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was exactly right.
Even someone I love as deeply as Holly cannot carry the weight of being the source of my joy.
Only Christ can do that.
That’s why I think this passage is really about much more than marriage.
It’s about what sits on the throne of your heart.
Nothing—not even a good thing—is meant to occupy that place except Jesus.
Your spouse is a wonderful gift.
Your children are wonderful gifts.
Your grandchildren...
Your career...
Your ministry...
They’re all gifts from God.
But gifts make terrible gods.
If you ask them to carry the weight of your identity or your deepest happiness, they’ll eventually disappoint you—not because they’re bad, but because they were never created to bear that burden.
Only Jesus can.
So love your spouse well.
Love your family well.
If you’re single, embrace the life God has given you.
If you’re widowed or divorced, know that your life is no less complete in Christ.
Whatever season you find yourself in, keep your heart properly ordered.
Love God first.
Then love everyone else from that place.
Jesus belongs on the throne of your heart.
Everything else finds its proper place when He is there.
Thanks for being with me today.
Tomorrow we’ll begin Chapter 8, where Paul starts talking about food offered to idols—another fascinating passage that has a lot to teach us.
And don’t forget, if you’re in the Starkville area today, we’d love to see you at the Mississippi State Wesley Foundation around 11:30 as we support their ministry together.
Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tomorrow.