1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Paul believed emphatically that every person who knew Christ was called for a purpose, God's purpose. Each had a place in the body of Christ. Each needed to lift his or her eyes to see that spiritual reason for living and not settle for anything this world has to offer. God's plans for our lives are much greater than our purposes. As Paul told the church in Colosse, Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3) God desires us to be his children, part of Christ himself. We are to reflect him, not ourselves. As Paul knew for himself, he was called for a purpose, set apart for a purpose. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:1-4) So are we all called. For the message of our lives should be Jesus Christ our Lord, our hope of glory. Nothing is greater, no message is more important, no life is better lived than to live for Christ. That is why in the above passage, Paul says remain in the state that you find yourself. The message that Christ is Lord is so important that nothing else in life can compare with this reality. If we spend our time living for ourselves, trying constantly to change our circumstances, always worrying about who we are and where we are, we might miss the most important reason for living, Jesus Christ. The message of our lives will be me and my will rather than not my will but yours be done, Lord. By centering on "me," we will lose the reason for life, which is Jesus Christ came to save sinners and He is Lord of all. Because He is life, He alone is worthy of our lives, our worship, and our praise. In Revelation they circle the throne and sing: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! (5:12)
In today's passage Paul says, stay as you are if possible for the glory of the Lord. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. This condition of circumcision is temporal: in view of eternal existence with God, this status is of no consideration. If you are a slave when called to follow Christ, remain so if you have to with the knowledge that your real life is IN CHRIST. If you are free when called, remain free, but do not become a slave of men for any purpose. Does God want us to be slaves to people? Of course not. But we are to fix our minds continually on the higher calling that we are slaves to God, for Jesus purchased our freedom with his precious blood. Twice in this letter, Paul reminds the believers they were purchased by Christ: You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 See also 1 Corinthians 7:23) Otherwise, Paul wants us to know, slave or not in this world, we are as slaves to Christ for his glory. We are not to be consumed by our circumstances in life: we are to be consumed by our purposes in the eternal body of Christ where He has placed us. His purpose, not ours; his will, not ours. For the flesh, this is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. For the fleshly man or woman, this is not the reason for life. The carnally minded individual wants to be all that a person can be in this life, to win this world and everything in it; for tomorrow death comes; and dust is each person's destiny. But winning in God's economy, in the life he has set up for us, means committing to Christ, to see all life in an eternal perspective, knowing our destination will be with him as sons and daughters. That is why we are so willing to become servants to Christ and to the world He created, to live for others and not for ourselves. As Paul said, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. (Philippians 1:21-22)
If we truly accept our place in life and work for the Lord where we are, we will do well and find joy in this life and glory in the life that is to come. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) Circumcised or not, slave or not, married or not, prosperous or not, successful or not, we are to live every day for the Lord, listening to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit to guide us. Our souls are not bound to this earth. When this journey of temporary existence ends, we will be in God's presence. Consequently, we should live now in that reality, seeing a harvest of the fruit of the Spirit from our labors for Jesus: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) We should focus everything we do on the heavenly, not the earthly. Yes, we must do what is necessary for our existence here, but our spiritual lives should always be focused on Christ and his plans for us. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14) We are to live as Christ wants us to live, revealing him to a broken world. We are to fulfill the two cardinal commandments, the commandments that suffice all others: love your neighbor as yourself and love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. Regardless of our status or position in the world, we should be living sacrifices for the Lord. We should be fully devoted to him, to no other, not to this world or to anything in it.
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