Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:31

"and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away." — 1 Corinthians 7:31 (ASV)

The apostle explains that the time for doing the Lord’s work is short and is coming to an end. This is not necessarily a reference to the second coming of Christ, for Paul may have been anticipating severe persecutions and a resulting curtailment of freedom to witness. So for the time remaining Paul admonishes them not to be overwhelmed by the social and material problems of the world but to live for the Lord. By “those who have wives should live as if they had none” (v.29) he means, “Live for the Lord in marriage.” If life brings sadness, live beyond it and do not be bound by it. If things are joyous, do not be engrossed in them. Those who are blessed with material possessions should not cling to them, as though they were to have them always. The reason for this challenge is that the material things (this is the meaning of “the present form” in v.31) of this world are changing and disappearing (cf. Colossians 3:12–14).