Seeing Life From God’s Perspective
BRD REFLECTION 2026
1 Corinthians 7:29–40 and Psalm 17:10–15 (NIV)
(Adriel Loh, from Church Governance and Risk Committee)
READ:
1 Corinthians 7:29–40 and Psalm 17:10–15 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul is speaking to the church about the principles of marriage. In this context, he sets out a deeper, more fundamental truth – the world in its present form is passing away. Because of this, Paul cautions us not to live as though our relationships, joys, sorrows, or possessions are permanent. Everything is temporary. Everything is transient. To Paul, what ultimately matters is not what we possess or what we experience, but whether we are living to please God.
In Psalm 17, David cries out to God in the midst of trouble. Enemies surround him and seek to destroy him. The wicked are proud and appear to prosper. But David appeals to God’s faithful love and calls on God to arise and deliver him. David does so with confidence because he knows he is the apple of God’s eye, and that God will always save those who trust in Him.
APPLY:
Both Paul and David teach us a single important principle: to see life from God’s perspective rather than our own.
For Paul, it is to see life from God’s eternal perspective. Life is short. Everything we possess and experience is passing away. Marriage and singleness, joy and sorrow, abundance and lack, even pleasure itself, must be held with open hands. We are not meant to build our hope on what is temporary, because we are made for another world, a better world, one that will last forever. When we see life from this perspective, it transforms our hopelessness into hope and our despair into destiny. We rise above the meaninglessness of life, inspired by divine purpose. We learn to live not for ourselves, not for pleasure, not for possession, but for God and what pleases Him.
For David, it is to see life from God’s loving perspective. In times of trouble, when everything seems to go against us and the future appears bleak, we need to realise that God’s view of things is very different from ours. From His vantage point, He is still in control, He is still sovereign, and we are still His beloved. Although we may not be able to see it, His actions toward us are always motivated by His love for us. He will vindicate us. For He works all things for our good and His eternal purpose, and makes everything beautiful in its time.
DO:
Let me choose to see life from God’s perspective. Life is short, and what matters most is that I live for Him. He will always love me and will always deliver me, and as such, I can rest assured in His love.
PRAY:
God, help me see as You see and not as I see, that I may live for You, please You, and love You, just as You have loved me. Amen.
