1 Corinthians 7:31 Commentary and Bible Study

‘And they use this world’ – this is the same point really. You have a profession in which you serve the health needs of the world, or the financial needs of the world. ‘They that use this world as not abusing it.’ Do not be completely taken up by it. And these marvellous words: ‘for the fashion of this world passeth away.’ If you have a modern translation in your hands, it probably says something like this: ‘for the form of this present world will be dissolved’, or ended, and that is wrong. For some reason they all go for ‘form’. It is not form. The Greek word points to appearance, which is the opposite of form, strictly speaking. The appearance of this world, is as far as the apostle will go. It is just an appearance. I saw a photograph some time ago, published in a magazine or newspaper, and some professional photographer had got this picture; he was out in the open and it was a cloud formation which had taken the appearance of a human head, even the face, and he got this marvellous picture. It was so exciting that he said I need it in video, and his camera, his phone I think it was, was at the bottom of his bag. So he rummaged for his phone, and he found it, and got it out, and pointed it skyward to get a video; he was too late. The image of a head and face had gone in those moments that he fumbled for his camera. That is perfect for this, that illustration. It was just an appearance almost a mirage, but no, just an appearance. Just a slight wind up there in the skies and in seconds it was gone. And that is the word which is translated here as ‘fashion’. ‘For the fashion’ or the appearance of this world passeth away.’ If you are consumed by your business, if you are consumed by anything in this world overmuch – you must do justice to things and do them properly – but if you are consumed overmuch by anything in this world: possessions, anything, it is just a fleeting appearance. It will all be gone. So what the apostle is saying is, whether you are a slave, whether you are married with all its responsibilities, or whether you are single, the great thing is never let go of your service for the Lord, and your realisation that you are his bondslave.