Read the Bible

Stuff about Marriage

¹ Now, let's talk about some questions you had in your letter. You asked if cowboys should stay away from sex. Listen, there ain't nothing wrong with sex if it is in the right context. And God is the one who decides the context, not you. ² I'd say stay away from it completely, but if you cannot, get married and have sex like God intended—each man with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.

³ A real cowboy will take care of his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should take care of her cowboy. ⁴ The wife gives her body to her husband, and the husband gives his body to his wife.

⁵ Don't be using sex like a bargaining chip. If y'all are going to quit having sex, then it should be a mutual agreement. Use the free time to be in prayer. But when your prayers are done, get back at it or the devil will get a foothold in the bedroom door. ⁶ I say these things, not as a command from God, but as a permission from him. ⁷ But I'm telling you the truth, it'd be better if y'all were just single like me. It'd save you a whole lot of discomfort. But being single is a special gift from God, no more or less than the other gifts he gives.

⁸ That's why I tell people who aren't married, and to widows, that it'd be better to stay unmarried like me. ⁹ But if you run too hot in the loins, then go ahead and get married. It's better to be married than burn with passion that leads to sin.

¹⁰ To all y'all married folks, I have something the Lord wanted me to tell you. A wife shouldn't run out on her husband. ¹¹ But if she does, she needs to stay single or go back to him. And husbands shouldn't divorce their wives.

¹² To the rest of you, God hasn't given me anything explicit to pass on, but it's safe to say that if a cowboy who rides for the Lord has a wife who doesn't believe, he must not divorce her if she's willing to stay married. ¹³ And if a cowgirl who rides for the Lord is married to an unbeliever, she needs to stay married if he's willing. ¹⁴ The unbelieving husband will be looked favorably upon to an extent by God because of the believing wife. And the unbelieving wife will be looked favorably upon to an extent by God because of the believing husband. If this wasn't the case, then their kids would be like outsiders to God, but that ain't the case. God loves them and looks favorably on his kids. ¹⁵ But if the one who does not believe wants out, let 'em out. In this case, the believer is free and not bound by marriage anymore. Do it this way because God has called us to live in peace, not conflict. ¹⁶ Don't forget though that an unbelieving husband might be saved because of the believing wife and vice versa.

Live How God Has You

¹⁷ Don't be wishing things were different for you. Don't wish you were with someone else or that you lived someplace else. Live how God has you right now. ¹⁸ If a cowboy had his pickle clipped long ago and becomes a believer, he shouldn't be trying to glue anything back on. But if a fellow is uncircumcised, he shouldn't get his pickle clipped when he becomes a believer. ¹⁹ Clipped pickles don't make a cowboy for God. Doing what the Boss says is what makes a cowboy of God. ²⁰ Each one should remain as they were when they gave their lives to the brand. ²¹ If you were a slave, don't fret about remaining so . . . but if you get the chance to be free, take it. ²² Look at it this way, if you were a slave before Jesus, you are now free. But if you were free before Jesus, you are a slave to him now. ²³ God paid a terrible price for you, so don't tie-on to the world's ways. ²⁴ All of you should stay like you were when God came for you.

Virgins and Widows

²⁵ Now, let's talk about your question about virgins. God hasn't told me anything specific, but he has given me mercy and wisdom that can be trusted. This is what I have to say about them. ²⁶ Because life is so hard and temptations are so strong, I think it is best to remain a virgin your entire life. ²⁷ If you have a wife, don't try to get a divorce. If you don't have a wife, don't go looking for one. ²⁸ But getting married isn't a sin. If a young lady gets married, it isn't a sin for her to lose her virginity. However, those who are married will have a lot tougher time than those who are not.

²⁹ There ain't a whole lot of time left. Don't concern yourselves too much with things that are not eternal: marriage,

³⁰ sadness, happiness, shopping, etc.

³¹ This world and the things in it will not be here much longer. Don't complicate your life with temporary thoughts, feelings, and actions.

³² I don't want you to worry all the time. A single cowboy only cares about riding for the Lord and doing the Lord's work. ³³ But a married fellow has to worry about supporting his family and his wife, not to mention worrying about if she's happy or not. ³⁴ Do you see how he is trying to do two things at once? He's trying to ride for the Lord and take care of his family. The same goes for a widow or a virgin. They concern themselves only with the Lord's work because they are dedicated in body and soul. But a married woman has to worry about worldly matters and pleasing her husband. ³⁵ Don't get me wrong, I'm trying to help, not make things harder. I want you to do what is right and that is giving yourselves completely to riding for the brand without reservation or hesitation.

³⁶ Let's look at this situation, a cowboy has a girlfriend, but they don't intend to get married. If they think they might get sexual with each other, then they should get married before that happens. Then there is no sin. ³⁷ But if he can control himself and they decide not to get married, that would be better. ³⁸ So the fellow who marries his girlfriend, and the guy who doesn't, are both good with God.

³⁹ A wife belongs to her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she can marry another, but only if he is a cowboy for the Lord. ⁴⁰ But honestly it would be better if she just stayed single. God didn't say it, but it still is wise counsel.