Sine Inpedimento | Undivided Devotion

"I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord" - 1 Cor 7:35 (NIV).

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

All distractions sometimes make us unable to focus on the goal. I usually have a shopping list. But while at the supermarket, my attention is drawn to other interesting items. As a result, I buy items that are not in accordance with the planned budget and it takes longer time at the supermarket. Social media notifications on my smartphone also often distract me when I'm trying hard to study. It takes some effort and a decision so that my devotion is undistracted.

In his letter, Paul emphasized that the most important thing in life is not simply making a life, but making a decision to focus on God, the highest purpose of our lives. Even marriage, God-given as it is, beautiful as it is, is not necessarily the highest choice an individual can make. Paul is not saying that being unmarried is better than being married. However, he reminded that by getting married and having a family, someone has obligations, problems, and family matters. If a person is not aware of it, all family problems will cause him/her make God as the second focus.

Paul emphasized that unmarried status is not at all lower than married status. We live in a time where all worldly things are coming to an end. For this reason, life in this world should not be our primary concern; instead, we should direct our primary attention to our heavenly home (Heb 11:13-16).

So his word to us is, "Don't let all these things in the world around you become the center of your life". Whatever our status, let's make the decision to stay focused on serving God in our daily lives.

 

 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 by Fr. Fransiskus Diaz, SVD.

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