In Paul’s teaching concerning virgins in I Corinthians 7, we find him saying in verse 35 that he gives them these teachings that they may “attend upon the Lord without distractions.” The revised version says, “Undivided devotion to the Lord would be “undivided”. They were to engage in nothing that would distract others from the light of life that should be seen in their lives.
This expression- “undivided devotion to the Lord” is a very good one. It is a powerful description of the Christian life. Not only does this apply to the virgins but to all children of God. Paul approached the same idea in Phil. 1:27a – “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel.” The simple understanding of such verses is that every act of our lives should glorify God. (I Cor. 10:31)
A Christian has no right to engage in anything that would distract from the influence of the Christ in his life. We do not have the right to engage in things that may be right within themselves but would cause weaker ones to fall (Rom 14 and I Cor. 8).
Whatever we say or do must be to “show forth the excellences of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9).
“Undivided Devotion” is what Jesus was talking about when He said that a man must love the Lord with all of his “heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Luke 10:2).
How about our devotion? Is it divided or undivided? Do we love God completely or do we divide our devotions between God and the idols gods?
Don Hooker 2/3/1963
