“Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” vs8-9

The qualifications for marriage are simple. When two believers are together, burning in lust, let them marry. You have not sinned.

First, marriage is not required. “I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am...Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.” Modern tradition puts marriage ahead of single life, but it’s not biblical. Singles are able to serve God better, because we are singularly focused and without distraction.

Marriage is good, but Christ doesn’t demand it, so we must not put pressure on people. Let singles maintain holiness, but do not look down on yourself, if God provides no spouse.

Secondly, marriage is to avoid fornication. “Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations. But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband [vs1-2].”

In God’s mercy, we have a way to fulfill our lawful lust. It is good to marry and enjoy the marriage bed, where the husband renders to the wife and the wife to the husband. “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife [vs3-4].”

Marriage is a picture of Christ in communion with His church. The two are one in the highest joy imaginable. Heaven will be better than sex, but husbands and wives enjoy the intimate benefit of exchanging love and physical pleasure with each other. Blessed is the marriage bed where both give their bodies in service; it is an example of Christian love and unbridled union.

Thirdly, even in marriage, Christ comes first. “Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control [vs5].” There is time set apart for prayer and fasting, because life is more than being happy together! It is serving the Lord and His kingdom together as one.

He gave you marriage - this very good thing - so that you can use it wisely, which is in thankful obedience.