Women and the Gospel
Jesus Christ and the good news that he and his followers proclaimed did many things to turn society on its head and proclaim that the "norms of society" were wrong. One area of change that still echos today is that of the value and role of women in society. The message of the gospel wasn't that there is no difference between the sexes in any area (as some today would try to put forward), but taught that before God women and men have equal value (Gal 3:28), that they are co-heirs in Christ (1 Peter 3:7). Their role in the family (Eph 5:22) and the church (1 Timothy 2:12) was however different.
Your Spouse Has Authority Over Your Body
In this chapter, Paul presents some nitty-gritty details of the equality that women (and men) have in marriage. On the one hand in Ephesians 5:22-23 Paul teaches that men are the head, or leader, of the wives and that wives should submit to their husbands, yet in 1 Corinthians 7:4 we see that the wife has authority over the husband's body (as husband's do over their wives body). Men often mistakenly view that because they are the head of the wife, that they can simply do as they please. But clearly if the wife has authority over the husband's body, that has implications. The first implication that Paul points out is in the area of sexual relations between a husband and a wife. The Corinthians had asked Paul if they should abstain from sexual relations altogether. Paul clearly responds that the sexual aspect of marriage is critical and should not be withheld on either side. Clearly this also means that as the spouse's body is not to be shared with someone outside of the marriage. This authority would also apply to the coverings of the body - so a wife should dress to please her husband, and a husband should dress to please his wife.
Living to Please Your Spouse
The next part of the discussion is interesting and takes this mutual bodily authority to a new level. At that time in Corinth and other places there was great persecution that was being faced by believers (as Paul himself was beaten and thrown in prison several times) so Paul says that because of the "present distress" (v 26) it is best to remain as you are (married or unmarried). He goes on to describe that those who are married have their interests divided - a husband pleasing God and his wife and a wife pleasing God and husband. The implications of this are critical to understand: if you are married, you must live to please your spouse. Often when people get married they often live as though they are not. Men tend to be the biggest violator by continuing to "go out with the boys" and do other activities as if they weren't married. Once married, the primary human relationship should be to one's spouse - husband or wife. A husband cannot simply please himself, and for that matter cannot live simply to "please God". The distortion and error here can be both on the irreligious side (a husband spending all of his time "out with the boys") or on the religious side (a husband spending all of his time out "serving God"). Both of those are wrong. That is not to say that a husband or wife cannot spend time with friends and cannot spend time serving God. Clearly both of those are good and important. The problem comes when the husband (or wife) doesn't give to their spouse the high priority of time and attention that they deserve. It is all too common in history to see pastors or ministers of Christ who have forgotten this and have neglected their wives and children (their first disciples) and have gone out to "serve God". Obviously the other side of this is a problem as well if the husband or wife is prevented from serving God because of demands of the spouse. God is the primary relationship and first love of our lives, but if we are married, we must also live to please our husband or wife.
Father, I thank you for the gift of a wife that you have given me! She is a blessing and a jewel and brings great joy and help to my life. Help me to love her and cherish her and live to please her as I please you.
Jesus Christ and the good news that he and his followers proclaimed did many things to turn society on its head and proclaim that the "norms of society" were wrong. One area of change that still echos today is that of the value and role of women in society. The message of the gospel wasn't that there is no difference between the sexes in any area (as some today would try to put forward), but taught that before God women and men have equal value (Gal 3:28), that they are co-heirs in Christ (1 Peter 3:7). Their role in the family (Eph 5:22) and the church (1 Timothy 2:12) was however different.
Your Spouse Has Authority Over Your Body
In this chapter, Paul presents some nitty-gritty details of the equality that women (and men) have in marriage. On the one hand in Ephesians 5:22-23 Paul teaches that men are the head, or leader, of the wives and that wives should submit to their husbands, yet in 1 Corinthians 7:4 we see that the wife has authority over the husband's body (as husband's do over their wives body). Men often mistakenly view that because they are the head of the wife, that they can simply do as they please. But clearly if the wife has authority over the husband's body, that has implications. The first implication that Paul points out is in the area of sexual relations between a husband and a wife. The Corinthians had asked Paul if they should abstain from sexual relations altogether. Paul clearly responds that the sexual aspect of marriage is critical and should not be withheld on either side. Clearly this also means that as the spouse's body is not to be shared with someone outside of the marriage. This authority would also apply to the coverings of the body - so a wife should dress to please her husband, and a husband should dress to please his wife.
Living to Please Your Spouse
The next part of the discussion is interesting and takes this mutual bodily authority to a new level. At that time in Corinth and other places there was great persecution that was being faced by believers (as Paul himself was beaten and thrown in prison several times) so Paul says that because of the "present distress" (v 26) it is best to remain as you are (married or unmarried). He goes on to describe that those who are married have their interests divided - a husband pleasing God and his wife and a wife pleasing God and husband. The implications of this are critical to understand: if you are married, you must live to please your spouse. Often when people get married they often live as though they are not. Men tend to be the biggest violator by continuing to "go out with the boys" and do other activities as if they weren't married. Once married, the primary human relationship should be to one's spouse - husband or wife. A husband cannot simply please himself, and for that matter cannot live simply to "please God". The distortion and error here can be both on the irreligious side (a husband spending all of his time "out with the boys") or on the religious side (a husband spending all of his time out "serving God"). Both of those are wrong. That is not to say that a husband or wife cannot spend time with friends and cannot spend time serving God. Clearly both of those are good and important. The problem comes when the husband (or wife) doesn't give to their spouse the high priority of time and attention that they deserve. It is all too common in history to see pastors or ministers of Christ who have forgotten this and have neglected their wives and children (their first disciples) and have gone out to "serve God". Obviously the other side of this is a problem as well if the husband or wife is prevented from serving God because of demands of the spouse. God is the primary relationship and first love of our lives, but if we are married, we must also live to please our husband or wife.
Father, I thank you for the gift of a wife that you have given me! She is a blessing and a jewel and brings great joy and help to my life. Help me to love her and cherish her and live to please her as I please you.
