1 Coríntios 7
Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 7
Barnes - The time is “contracted,” “drawn into a narrow space” (sunestalmenos). The word which is used here is commonly applied to the act of “furling” a sail, that is, reducing it into a narrow compass; and is then applied to anything that is reduced within narrow limits. Perhaps there was a reference here to the fact that the time was “contracted,” or made short, by their impending persecutions and trials. But it is always equally true that time is short. It will soon glide away, and come to a close. The idea of the apostle here is, that the plans of life should all be formed in view of this truth, that time is short. No plan should be adopted which does not contemplate this; no engagement of life made when it will not be appropriate to think of it; no connection entered into when the thought “time is short,” would be an unwelcome intruder; see 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:8-9.
1 Coríntios 7
Barnes - This does not mean that they are to treat them with unkindness or neglect, or fail in the duties of love and fidelity. It is to be taken in a general sense, that they were to live above the world (cf Col 3:2+, Php 3:20-21+); that they were not to be unduly attached to them that they were to be ready to part with them; and that they should not suffer attachment to them to interfere with any duty which they owed to God. They were in a world of trial; and they were exposed to persecution; and as Christians they were bound to live entirely to God, and they ought not, therefore, to allow attachment to earthly friends to alienate their affections from God, or to interfere with their Christian duty. In one word, they ought to be “just as faithful to God,” and “just as pious,” in every respect, as if they had no wife and no earthly friend. Such a consecration to God is difficult, but not impossible. Our earthly attachments and cares draw away our affections from God, but they need not do it. Instead of being the occasion of alienating our affections from God, they should be, and they might be, the means of binding us more firmly and entirely to him and to his cause. But alas, how many professing Christians live for their wives and children only, and not for God in these relations! how many suffer these earthly objects of attachment to alienate their minds from the ways and commandments of God, rather than make them the occasion of uniting them more tenderly to him and his cause! (Commentary) Seneca - We all complain of the shortness of time; and yet we have more than we know what to do with. Our lives are spent either in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end of them. MORNING READING: JOHN 9 - Stephen Olford “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day.” – John 9:4 The true principle of all real service for God underlies this statement of the Lord Jesus. And since He was the perfect Servant when upon this earth, He made this principle the basis of His loyal service to God. The Obligation of True Service. The Lord Jesus said, “I must work.” The obligation of loving and loyal service to His Father compelled Him to work. Yes, right from the beginning (remember the temple when He was twelve years old?) to the end. The Occupation of True Service. There is only one great occupation in true service – it is doing God's will. I must work the “works of Him.” “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,” said the Savior (John 4:34). The Opportunity of True Service. “While it is day.” Now is the acceptable time … “Time is short” (1 Cor. 7:29+). I can do nothing else but serve You, Lord, all of my days, For it is a privilege and an honor – yes, even my duty! According to Your Word: Morning and Evening See John 9:4 COMMENTARY NOTES for multiple devotionals that deal with a similar thought of work while you still have time to work! James Smith - THE TIME IS SHORT 1 CORINTHIANS 7:29 For Study: Be Decided, 1 Kgs. 18:21 For Salvation: Be Instant, 2 Cor. 6:2 For Service: Be Diligent, Col 3:23 For Suffering: Be Patient, Jas. 5:7 Audie Lewis - Scraps of Time - What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:29 Could it be possible for me to come to every one of you personally and grasp you by the hand, I would with most affectionate earnestness—yea, even with tears—pray you by him to whom you owe your souls, awake and render personal service to the Lover of your souls; make no excuse, for no excuse can be valid from those who are bought with so great a price. Your business, you will tell me, requires so much of your thoughts—I know it does; then use your business in such a way as to serve God in it. Still there must be some scraps of time that you could devote to holy service; there must be some opportunities for directly aiming at conversions. To some of you the excuse of “business” would not apply, for you have seasons of leisure. Oh, I beseech you, let not that leisure be driveled away in frivolities, in mere talk, in sleep and self-indulgence! Time is hastening and men are perishing. With such awful demands upon us, we cannot afford to trifle. Oh, that I had the power to stir the heart and soul of all my fellow Christians by a description of this huge city wallowing in iniquity. Surely sin, the grave, and hell are themes that might create a tingling even in the dull, cold ear of death. Oh, that I could set before you the Redeemer upon the cross dying to ransom souls! Oh, that I could depict the heaven that sinners lose, and their remorse when they shall find themselves self-excluded! James Smith - Life quickly glides away! "But this I say, brethren — the time is short!" 1 Corinthians 7:29 Our time on earth is short — and it is daily growing shorter! Life quickly glides away — and death and eternity rapidly approaches. In a little while — we shall close our eyes on all the scenes of earth, and be done with all the concerns of time. Few things fly swifter than time, or teach us more solemn lessons. Yet we slight them, and forget them, or fail to improve them. O for grace to derive comfort, reproof, and stimulus from the brevity of time. "The time is short!" Then our troubles must be short, for they are all limited to time. They are theoffspring of sin, and will not out-live their parent! Every trouble, leaves one the less to be endured. Soon the last trouble will arrive! Let us therefore . . bear them with patience, endure them with fortitude, and rejoice in the prospect of bidding them an eternal farewell. Our sharpest, severest trials — will soon be ended! And then, all that will remain, will be eternal peace and joy! "The time is short!" Then the pleasures of time will soon terminate! As sweet as they are — they are all fleeting! Prize them as we may — we must soon part with them. Not one of them will go with us beyond the dying bed. Let us not, then, value them too highly, or set our hearts too much upon them. Earthly comforts, worldly distinctions and honors — will soon have passed away. The rich and the poor will soon meet together in the graveyard. The peasant and the prince, the beggar and monarch — will alike slumber together in the dust. Let us then, if tempted to think too much of the worldly distinctions, or value too highly the comforts of life — remember that the time is short! "The time is short!" Then Jesus will soon be here! How will many things appear, which now occupy our time, engross our attention, and steal away our hearts — when Jesus comes? Believer, "the time is short," lift up your head with joy. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for. . . your tribulation will soon cease, your sorrow will soon flee away, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Time is the limit of your trials, temptations, and troubles. Time is the limit of your conflicts, doubts, and fears. Time is the limit of your pains, privations, and griefs. Beyond time — all is . . . peace and pleasure, purity and perfection, happiness and rest! Lift up then your head with joy, for your redemption, your eternal redemption draws near! Vance Havner - 1 Corinthians 7:29 To one past his threescore and ten the picture in the show window holds a poignant charm. For all its "dangers, toils and snares" I have enjoyed my stay in this old world. Spoiled by sin and soiled by sinners it is but a wreck of its earlier beauty—but it still holds much that reminds us of its former glory and of the grandeur yet to come when it shall be redeemed. The wild ducks leave the northern lakes but they expect to return. I am anticipating my migration to a better realm but I plan to come back to reign with the saints on a restored earth. Then one day there will be new heavens and a new earth and that will be our eternal home. What a prospect! No wonder the heart beats faster in the autumn of our days when so much lies ahead! These falling leaves, the flaming sumac, this nip of winter in the air—all these suggest to the Christian what this world knows nothing of. It is the tragedy of the church that we have lost our pilgrim character and driven down our tent pegs in these poor lowlands as though we were here to stay. If we understood what transients we really are it would put everything in a new perspective and add a zest to our present stay that so few Christians know. Cheer up, my fellow migrants, it will soon be time to move! Don Fortner - ‘The time is short’ We are living in a world where all things are temporary. Everything here is perishing. And we are going to a world where all things are eternal. If we are wise we shall live in this world of time with our hearts fixed on eternity. And when we look at all things in this world with an eye to eternity there is one striking fact that we cannot avoid. The time of your life is short. ‘What is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ ‘My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle. ‘My friend, your days are numbered. Soon you will have taken your last breath. Be warned! The time for salvation is short. Today is the day of salvation. This is the accepted time. Today you must come to Christ, laying hold of his righteousness and shed blood as the only grounds of your acceptance before God. For you who are the children of God, the time for service is short. ‘The hour cometh when no man can work.’ Let us give ourselves to the service of our Redeemer while the time remains. And, blessed be God, the time for suffering is short. Let us not faint, nor grow weary, ‘For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ Since the time is short, we must be detached from the things of this world. We must hold the dearest objects of this life with a loose hand and cling only to Christ. Take your dearest earthly possessions—your money, your lands, your friends, your family and place this brand upon them—perishing! Christ alone and the riches of his grace are eternal. What then must we do with the time that we have? We must redeem the time. Buy up every opportunity to worship and serve Christ. Buy up every opportunity to point men and women to Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Much time is gone already, the days are evil and the time that remains is short. Therefore I say, redeem the time. C H