When No Advantage Is Gained: Godly People Are Content Series

We are discussing marriage, singles, and God’s instructions for each throughout this series. To the married, I have two goals for the series:

1) to convince that great marriages begin with a picture of God’s definition of marriage – Christ and His church;

2) to challenge you to do whatever it takes to achieve a great marriage in order to call people’s attention to the ultimate great marriage – Christ & His Church

Do we control our destiny or do unseen forces manipulate us? That’s the question behind this past Friday’s new release, the movie The Adjustment Bureau. The Adjustment Bureau is described as a romantic science fiction thriller featuring movie star Matt Damon. Damon plays a charismatic politician running for the United States Senate. On the campaign trail, he falls in love with a free-spirited ballet dancer. His pursuit of her is interrupted as he arrives to work one day only to see his boss frozen. As the boss sits motionless behind a large table, he is examined by strange men wearing suits. The men wearing suits tell Damon they have a plan for his life, a plan strategically devised by someone they call “The Chairmen.” Their plan does not include falling in love with the ballet dancer. Throughout the movie, they chase him wherever he goes. They are determined to guide his life according to “The Chairman’s” plan. Damon is equally determined to follow his passion for the young girl. As they work to separate the two, Damon searches for years to find her again. Do we control our destiny or do unseen forces manipulate us? While no such person as “The Chairman” exists, the Bible portrays a kind, loving heavenly Father who exercises control of a believer’s life according to His wise plans. We’ll return to this question is a few moments.

Today’s message is intended to cause you to relax. I preach for the purpose of giving you rest from your concerns. I preach also for the purpose of causing you to be alert to the big purposes of God. But for now, let’s read today’s Scripture text.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God” (1 Corinthians 7:17-24).

We find ourselves in 1 Corinthians 7 as we exploring the various avenues of marriage and singleness. These verses seem to have little connection to the topic of marriage and singleness. They seem to have little to do with anything Paul’s been discussing before.

1. Your Conversion is Your New Axis

Scientists tell us that the earth has an axis. It’s this axis, or this fixed point, that our planet spins around. The earth’s axis is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. Our lives have certain axes points. Your birth or if you were married certainly are axes points. Your children’s birth is a high point. Perhaps you’ve graduated from college. All of these are critical turning points in your life. But when you consider your martial status, the critical axis point is something altogether different. How you define your life’s axes points is critical. Some axis points will cause you deep unrest. While other axis points will give you rest.

For example, some single ladies are deeply concerned about marriage. WHO WILL I MARRY? This question burns their psyche from when they put their makeup on in the mornings until they update their Facebook status at night. If life’s stresses could be measured in terms of the nation’s defense readiness condition (DEFCON), then issues of marriage and singleness cause many to heighten their tension to warlike levels. The Department of Defense lowers the DEFCON rating as nations approaches war. “Who you will Marry?” or “Should I Marry?” is a question that causes a lot of sleepless nights.