How to Use Earthly Joy and Sorrow
In a changeable world – where joy is fleeting and sorrow is prevalent – Christians are able to live unhindered by their earthly circumstances. This is Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7. At first glance, it appears to be a chapter that merely contains principles for marriage, and advice for the unmarried and widowed. Hidden within, Paul reveals how we are to live in the world. He shows that earthly joy and sorrow are not so profound as they first seem.
In the middle of his discussion about marriage, Paul suddenly urges “each person” to “lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him” (v. 17). This is a shocking statement, as Paul is talking to men and women who find themselves in painful life situations. His audience consists of men and women in difficult marriages – and many of them have militantly pagan spouses!
Far from stating his views tentatively or claiming that this is simply a ‘good idea,’ the apostle doubles down on this idea. “This is my rule in all the churches.” In fact, Paul even tells slaves that they should “not be concerned about” their slavery (v. 21).
Why? Because there is an other-worldly principle here (vv. 29-31). As Robertson-Plummer explains, “though I counsel none to change their state, I do counsel all to change their attitude towards all earthly things.”
All earthly things are transient. “The appointed time has grown very short…The present form of this world is passing away.”
As G. Vos explains, “The underlying idea is none other than that the times preceding the Parousia [the coming of Christ] require a unique concentration of the minds of believers upon the Lord and the manner in which they may best please him. The last days are to be days of undivided and most assiduous interest in the Lord and the unparalleled mode in which he may soon come to reveal himself.”
In other words, the apostle is calling Christians to a mindset that places God in the center of everything. The time is short – only God’s kingdom is important. Christ will come soon, and as we live in the ‘end times,’ it is crucial that nothing is more important in our lives than preparing for Jesus’ second coming.
It is because of this changed perspective that the apostle counsels us, “From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.”
Paul is not denying the significance of joy or sorrow. It is still proper to rejoice in the happy times, and to mourn in the painful ones. Paul himself was a man full of emotions, one who wept, rejoiced, and lived a life of intense feelings.
Rather, Paul teaches us to view the joys and sorrows of life in a passing world as transitory experiences. When we recognize the temporal nature of our joy, we won’t get over-excited. We will remember that it is passing away. When we recognize the temporal nature of our sorrow, we won’t be over-sorrowful. It also will pass away.
As Lightfoot explains, “…to one who judges rightly, earthly grief is not over-grievous and earthly joy not over-joyous.” Yes, they are still powerful emotions, but they are not overpowering. They are temporary.
Earthly joy – like the joy of an engaged couple – will soon be swallowed up in greater glory. Earthly sorrow – like the anguish of childbirth – will be forgotten on the threshold of eternity’s delights. As powerful as they may be, these temporary states will soon be overwhelmed by eternity and its inexpressible realm of greater emotions.
It is with this mindset – this recognition of the transitory nature of life – that Christians are called to live. This will keep us from ‘abusing’ the present life, by trying to extract every drop of joy from it. When earthly joys are over-joyous, earthly sorrows must be overly painful. But both are moderated in light of eternity.
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This article adapted and reposted from March 5, 2018
