Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs — how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided.

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world — how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin — this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is — and I think that I too have the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 7.25 – 40).

In this passage the apostle Paul tells us that marriage is not compulsory. If you are single or widowed you may remarry if you wish, and you would not be sinning to do so, but you may also, if you wish remain single. In fact, there are a number of advantages to being single. And above all, he says, whether we are married or single, we need to remember that this life is not all there is. Eternity is soon to come, when there will be no marriage, and we should live with one eye constantly on eternity.



Explanation:
We can divide the passage according to the paragraphs in the NIV translation:

Not to marry may be a good thing for you, verses 25 – 28

All of us need to remember that this world is passing away,
verses 29 – 31

The advantages of being single, and the disadvantages of being married, verses 32 – 35

Advice for single people who already have boyfriends or girlfriends, verses 36 - 38

Advice for widows, verses 39 - 40



1. Not to marry may be a good thing for you

In verses 25 - 28 the apostle speaks to those "virgins", by which I think we can take it, those who are not married, or, as we would say today, those who are "single". He says.

Continue reading below:
http://www.poplarbaptistchurch.org/html/marriage_is_not_compulsory.html