Study Desk

The one who plants is just as important as the one who waters. And each one will be paid for what they do.

Apollos and I work together for God, and you are God's garden and God's building.

And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for,

Some of you think I am not coming for a visit, and so you are bragging.

Some of you say, "We can do anything we want to." But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me.

You also say, "Food is meant for our bodies, and our bodies are meant for food." But I tell you that God will destroy them both. We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies.

Don't you know that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? Is it right for me to join part of the body of Christ to a prostitute? No, it isn't!

God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.

Now I will answer the questions that you asked in your letter. You asked, "Is it best for people not to marry?"

So don't refuse sex to each other, unless you agree not to have sex for a little while, in order to spend time in prayer. Then Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Here is my advice for people who have never been married and for widows. You should stay single, just as I am.

God paid a great price for you. So don't become slaves of anyone else.

We are now going through hard times, and I think it is best for you to stay as you are.

What I am saying is for your own good—it isn't to limit your freedom. I want to help you to live right and to love the Lord above all else.

We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.

Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything.

Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for.

If others have the right to do this, we have an even greater right. But we haven't used this right of ours. We are willing to put up with anything to keep from causing trouble for the message about Christ.

I do all this for the good news, because I want to share in its blessings.

Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever.