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The “time is short” part of 1 Corinthians 7:29 expresses the urgency of spreading the good news about Christ before we die or He comes again.
That meaning becomes clearer in the context of the rest of the passage:
What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 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. (1 Corinthians 7:29–31)
Because the time is short, Paul says our outlook on earthly things and relationships should change. The apostle doesn’t mean that a man should divorce his wife, not mourn deceased loved ones, never rejoice, or refuse to interact with the world—the rest of the chapter and other passages of Scripture clearly go against such an interpretation. Rather, Paul is conveying the urgency of telling others about Christ and the priority of eternal matters over earthly ones. The point is that we should not allow any worldly attachment to interfere with our duty to God. Paul punctuates the passage by reinforcing that meaning: “For this world as we know it will soon pass away” (1 Corinthians 7:31, NLT). We must be ready to go.This explains why Paul encouraged believers to serve the Lord as they are—circumcised or uncircumcised, married or unmarried, slave or free (1 Corinthians 7:17–24). Our circumstances should not dictate when we’re “ready” to serve Christ. We can serve Him as a formal missionary or by sharing the gospel at our workplace or even in a bed of affliction. Whatever our situation, we’re to glorify God and proclaim Christ to the world.
During His public ministry, Jesus conveyed the urgency of following Him:
He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59–62).
Jesus wasn’t being callous in His replies to these men. He was expressing that His followers should prioritize His kingdom. Each believer is tasked with telling others the good news (Matthew 28:18–19), and, as Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37–38).But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59–62).
Believers are to be laborers for Christ. Each individual life is short, though—normally around seventy or eighty years (Psalm 90:10). And this isn’t about keeping a timesheet of evangelism hours that will count toward our salvation—not at all. We’re saved once we place our faith in Christ (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9), not on the basis of our works. But love of God and others (Matthew 22:36–40) should compel us to share the life-saving truth about Christ.
No one should dawdle in his or her service to the Lord. The day and time Jesus will come again are unknown. Jesus exhorted believers to “be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44). Whether Jesus comes as you’re reading this sentence or five hundred years after you’re gone, the task is to share the good news while you can.
