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. -- I Cor. 7:29-32.
Aviation regulations require that a pilot needs to focus 100 percent of his attention on the landing process, when he is about to land a plane. At this point, he must focus on the altitude, air speed, and position without any distractions.
We in the Christian church are also called to be focused. We should give our full attention to the work which the Lord has called us to do. Jesus is the object of our hope and for that reason; we should not let anything sidetrack us. Unfortunately, we do.
Because we do get sidetracked, the apostle Paul, in his charge to the church at Corinth, tells the Christians to focus. The apostle states that there is an urgency to do God's work.
He suggests that the urgency to proclaim the Gospel is so important that, "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 ..." This might appear to be somewhat harsh. However, in order to understand what the apostle is saying, we have to place ourselves in the time in which he lived.
St. Paul, like the other apostles, was of the impression that Jesus would return in his lifetime. Therefore, he wanted the church to work tirelessly at evangelizing the world.
The apostle was not against marriage. In fact, just a few verses earlier in this same chapter, he supports marriage. He simply wanted to get the church focused.
All Christians should be cognizant that the most important things in life are the things of God. Christ Jesus will return to collect his church soon. Therefore, we are to be active sharing the Gospel with all people and demonstrating the love of God in the way we live.
The urgency of Christ's return is most important. Time is short because we do not know when we will close our eyes in death. When we do, the judgment has come for us.
We constantly live as if the things in our lives are more important than the thing of the Lord.
We are always too busy, never having time for the work of the Lord.
The things of this world will pass away. Luther writes, "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." We will lose our earthly possessions. When we leave this earth, they will remain here, probably with people who will have no regard for our sacrificial work in acquiring them.
The proclamation of the Gospel is paramount. Therefore, we should work as if time will soon expire. The work of God comes before any and everything. Nothing on the face of the earth is more important than building God's kingdom here on earth.
This is the point Paul puts to the church at Corinth and to us who live today. The work of the Lord is first. Let nothing distract you. Like the pilot in the cockpit of the plane, we Christians have to be totally focused in Christ and doing the work of the Lord.
On the day of the judgment we will be called upon to give an account of our stewardship. Only Jesus Christ can speak for us. No, not our wives, not our friends, not our children, not our pastor, nor any of our earthly possessions. Therefore, if it is the last thing that you do, proclaim the Gospel. I assure you that you can take all that you do for Christ to the grave. Amen.
 
Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at The Lutheran Church of Nassau, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas, or telephone: 323-4107; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com; Website: www.Nassaulutheranchurch.org.

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