PRIORITIES
1 Corinthians 7
“I say this as a concession, not as a command.”
In this section of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Paul issues commands that must be followed (To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord)), gives practical advice (To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord)) that do not cross the line of disobedience and sin, and, in the matter of sexual abstinence by mutual consent for a time, makes a concession while insisting that these concessions must be temporary.
It tells us that God draws for us clear lines that we must not cross while allowing us temporary concessions that are intended for a specific goal and in areas where there are no clear lines and there are competing concerns (involving non-Christian and Christian, for example) we are allowed to exercise our own judgement while respecting the wishes and needs of both parties to arrive at the least harmful solution.
In the advice that Paul gives and the examples he commented upon we see that he prioritises ensuring that we are not pressured to sin (But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion), that despite a breakdown in marriage the union is upheld while practical arrangements are made (To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife) and that amicable solutions are preferred so as not to create barriers for reconciliation or, in the case of an unbeliever, respecting his wishes (But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace).
Paul looks at issues in their breadth, taking into account the clear commands and wishes of God, the needs of the individuals and practical ways to mitigate their circumstances, the wishes of non-believers, all with a view to allow the possibility of good outcomes.
We do well to emulate his wisdom as we consider the many circumstances that we need to deal with in life.