1. How can I please the Lord? (32-35)

Paul does not oppose marriage, but he wants us to put marriage, as well as the single life, in the proper perspective. It is natural for a man or a woman to be concerned about how to please his or her spouse. But a Christian can't just live naturally. He must struggle to keep as his top priority how to please the Lord.

2. To marry or not to marry? (36-40)

The only Christian alternative to marriage is the celibate single life. Marriage is God's will for most people, but it is not absolute. Loving God and seeking to please him is the one priority that cannot be compromised. One can marry or not marry, according to God's gifts and leading. Even a widow is free to marry again--if the person she marries belongs to the Lord. Paul is personally grateful, however, that God has enabled him to live a single life.

Application: Lord, help me to keep spiritual order in my view of marriage and in my home. Help me to please you and not be captured by worldly concerns.
One Word: How can I please the Lord?