When someone special comes along we tend to experience a feeling of happiness, and then we want to figure out how to keep her or him or around. We start to include them more often in the time that we have available. Then there’s the progression of spending time together to looking to please or help them with their needs in life. This portion of a relationship is only achieved by dividing the effort and thoughts of our own and pointing them towards a different focus.

In 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 Paul gives what is truly his opinion about marriage. He makes it clear that people have not sinned by getting married but the major thing that marriage does is divide the devotion that we are able to give and sends it two destinations rather than one. A married individual who is believer in Jesus Christ now has to work and be aware of how to please their spouse and the Lord. It is very obvious that that God is ok with this type of divided devotion. He commanded that man should work and grow his family by being fruitful and multiplying (Genesis 1:28) and he who does not take care of his family is considered worse than unbeliever (1Tim 5:8). The process of devotion really comes down to what you allow to be a part of your day to day work. Do you realize that the work you accomplish allows your finances to be enough to provide for your family or treat your spouse to a gift of appreciation and love. And the grifts or effort we sacrifice for others is able to introduce someone to love of God that directs our life.

Our excuses that keep us from being devoted to God need to be put away. The reality is that being devoted to God will always allow the room and ability to show love to those who we choose to be devoted to since at the time we are commanded to be devoted to them. Although Paul wasn’t married he took advantage of trying to please everyone in everything he did, but only that they might be saved 1 Cor 10:33.

I pray that your devotion is to show and give someone something rather than receive simply receiving something for yourself.