Marital Concerns
1 Corinthians 7
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Sexual Purity
… It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
He is referring to sexual contact. Sexual desire is purely of the flesh. It is not evil in the context of marriage. It is the closest, most intimate relationship possible between two human beings. In the context of marriage, it is a healthy relationship. In fact, it was God’s idea.
Hebrews 13
4 Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Let’s get this straight – marital intimacy is intended to be a pleasurable experience and a bonding experience between a husband and a wife. It is not just for reproduction.
It is supposed to be pleasurable to both parties. Some people have gotten some erroneous ideas about this. It is your duty to make sure that your spouse is finding this relationship enjoyable. If not, talk about – find out why and fix it. No woman should feel that this is an obligatory marital duty that she has to endure, and no man should see that he gets his pleasure and ignore his wife’s needs in this relationship.
Let’s get more pointed here. If something in this realationshiip causes you discomfort or seems perverse, you need to talk it out. This is not a subject that is unmentionable between husband and wife. Neither should require the other to do something they are uncomfortable with.
Celibacy
In Paul’s thinking, and this is just his prefernce, it would be good to avoid all worldly or fleshly pleasures in ordder to give onesself to strictly spiritual concerns. But not everyone can live that particular lifestyle.
1 Corinthians 7
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
Jesus seemed to indicate that this was a special calling.
Matthew 19
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].
Marriage
2 Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.