音频：
视频：
哥林多前书：7:36-40: 36若有人以为自己待他的女儿不合宜，女儿也过了年岁，事又当行，他就可随意办理，不算有罪，叫二人成亲就是了。37倘若人心里坚定，没有不得已的事，并且由得自己作主，心里又决定了留下女儿不出嫁，如此行也好。38这样看来，叫自己的女儿出嫁是好，不叫他出嫁更是好。39丈夫活着的时候，妻子是被约束的；丈夫若死了，妻子就可以自由，随意再嫁，只是要嫁这在主里面的人。40然而按我的意见，若常守节更有福气。我也想自己是被神的灵感动了。
保罗在这段内容谈论了婚姻可能出现的几种情况（是否决定独身、决定结婚、决定再婚），并从使徒的角度给出了自己的建议，但他并没有试图去捆绑人们做决定时的良心。在我们生活的很多方面，当我们无法依靠上帝的话语来决定何去何从的时候，上帝给予我们自由做我们自己认为最好的决定。
上帝为什么要这么做？上帝知晓我们的心是属于他的。是的，我们会和自己的罪性抗争，这也是为什么我们在生活中一些最重要的决定上会挣扎。我们对这种挣扎感到不舒服，但即使是这种挣扎也对我们有好处。它让我们重新审视我们敬畏神的优先次序。它驱使我们从我们尊重的基督徒朋友那里寻求智慧和帮助。它驱使我们从上帝的话语中重新确认我们的信心。它使我们更加谦卑，跪下来向上帝祷告。所以不论我们做什么样的决定，我们在信心上会成长坚固。所以如果有朋友到你这里来寻求建议，你可以帮助他们探索可能做的选择，但你不要代替他们作出决定。
当我和我父亲探讨是否要成为牧师的时候，他也是这样做的。他告诉我田地里的庄稼熟了，等着收割。耶稣需要工人来收割他的庄稼。但最后，他这样说道：“你可以成为你任何想成为的人。但是要记住，无论你做什么，都要荣耀耶稣。”
祷告：主耶稣，当我在此生中做出各种决定时，我祷告我能荣耀你。谢谢你让我在你给我的自由中挣扎。我如此祈求是奉你的名。阿们。
1 Corinthians 7: 36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better. 9 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God. (EHV)
Paul covers a number of different scenarios regarding marriage, and then gives his apostolic advice on the matters without binding the consciences of those who were making these decisions. In so many areas of our life, God gives us the freedom to do what we deem best in situations that are not decided by God’s Word.
Why would God do that? God knows that he has our hearts. Yes, we struggle with our sinful nature, and that’s why we wrestle with some of the most important decisions in our lives. We aren’t always comfortable with that wrestling, but even the wrestling is good for us. It makes us reexamine our godly priorities. It forces us to gain wisdom and support from Christian friends whom we respect. It drives us into God’s Word for confirmation of our faith. It humbles us and brings us to our knees in prayer. So whatever decision we make, we grow stronger in our faith. So when friends come to you for advice, help them explore their options, but don’t make their decision for you.
My father did that when he talked to me about becoming a pastor. He told me that the fields are white for the harvest, and that Jesus needs workers in his field. But in the end, he said, “You can be whatever you want to be. Only remember, whatever you do, honor Jesus.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in all of my life’s decisions, I pray that I will honor you. Thank you for making me wrestle in the freedom that you have given me. I ask this in your name. Amen.