Before we continue our study of the seventh chapter of First Corinthians, let us briefly recall what has been said in this chapter so far.
In essence, the church in Corinth held two extreme views about marriage.
The first group believed it was better not to marry at all, as though that made a person more spiritual. This was an echo of the teaching of various Greek philosophers. To this Paul replies:
- not everyone has the gift of singleness;
- it is better to marry than to burn with passion;
- and if a person is already married, even to an unbelieving spouse, all the more should he not seek a divorce in order to become “more spiritual”;
- moreover, God can use a believer for the salvation of his or her spouse through a godly life.
But there was also another extreme. The second group, influenced by Jewish rabbinic teaching, believed:
- everyone is obligated to marry;
- otherwise a person fails to fulfill God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply.”
Paul replies that singleness, too, has its advantages:
- if a person is able to live without marriage and keep himself pure, it is better to remain so;
- Christian life in the first century was full of persecution and affliction, and those who have a family will face greater sorrow during times of persecution;
- and a married person inevitably divides his attention between family and serving the Lord, whereas an unmarried person can devote himself entirely to service.
Now we come to verses 17–24.
At first glance it seems that Paul changes the subject and begins to speak about circumcision, slavery, and social standing. But in reality he is still answering the same question: after coming to Christ, must a person radically change his outward circumstances—social or family standing?
Paul’s answer is very simple: above all, God calls us to be faithful to him right where he has placed us, whatever condition we may be in now.
God Has Assigned Your Condition (v. 17)
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. (1 Corinthians 7:17)
Notice that it is God who has assigned the condition in which you find yourself. Paul reminds the Corinthians of God’s sovereign call.
God saves people from every walk of life and every station:
- the rich and the poor;
- the educated and the uneducated;
- the married and the single;
- the free and slaves;
- Jews and Gentiles.
Note two important expressions: “the Lord has assigned to him” and “God has called him.” They remind us that God sovereignly governs a person’s life.
It is no accident that we:
- were born into our family;
- grew up in our country;
- received our particular abilities;
- find ourselves in our present circumstances.
People often think: “If only I had a different job…”, “If only I lived in another city…”, “If only I were married…”, “If only I were not married… then I could serve the Lord better.”
But Paul says: begin serving God right where he has placed you today. Be faithful in the condition you are in. Your life circumstances must not keep you from being faithful where you are.
Circumcised or Uncircumcised (vv. 18–19)
Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (1 Corinthians 7:18–19)
Here Paul gives his first example—the difference between Jews and Gentiles. This example can be generalized: neither nationality, nor background, nor religious past, nor outward religious marks, nor cultural traditions carry any weight.
To put it in modern terms: whether you are Jewish or not, Russian or Ukrainian, Armenian or Australian, raised in a Christian family or an atheist one, whether your parents were Orthodox or Baptist—none of this in itself makes a person a believer.
Even if someone was born into a believing family and attended church all his life, that still does not mean he knows the Lord and has salvation.
So what does matter? Paul says, “but keeping the commandments of God.” God is not concerned with an outward mark, with nationality, or with religious affiliation, but with a repentant heart, true faith, and obedience to his Word. Christ said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). True faith always shows itself in obedience.
Slave or Free (vv. 20–23)
Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. (1 Corinthians 7:20–23)
Next Paul shows that even social standing and occupation do not make a person more or less spiritual. Now he gives another example—slavery.
These words sound strange to us, because we live in a society where slavery of the kind that existed then is practically gone. Sadly, other forms of slavery do exist among us, but that is not our subject today.
In the Roman Empire millions of people were slaves. After coming to Christ, some of them might have thought: “Now I am a child of God, but I cannot serve God because I am a slave. So I must change my situation immediately, or I will not be able to be faithful.”
Paul answers, “Do not be concerned about it.” That is: do not think your status hinders your salvation; do not consider yourself a second-class Christian; do not think God cannot use you while you are a slave.
Yet Paul adds, “But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.” Freedom is better than slavery. He is not saying you must remain a slave your whole life; if you can become free, take the opportunity. But this does not mean you cannot already serve the Lord and be faithful right where you are. This is the central thought of the passage: a person’s spiritual worth and faithfulness do not depend on his social standing.
For in Christ a slave becomes the Lord’s freedman, and a free person becomes a servant of Christ. Therefore before God the company director, the entrepreneur, the doctor, the driver, the builder, the pensioner, and the laborer all stand equal. Why? Because “you were bought with a price.”
Our primary identity is defined not by occupation, income, education, or social standing. Our primary identity is that we belong to Christ.
Remain There with God (v. 24)
So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. (1 Corinthians 7:24)
And so, once again, Paul says: be faithful where God has placed you. This is now the third time he repeats the same thought—which means it is the main thought of the whole passage.
After conversion, many people begin to think: “I need to completely change my situation in life; I need to change my circumstances, and if they don’t change, I won’t be able to serve the Lord.” But Paul says: the most important change must happen not around us, but within us.
Notice the last words of the verse: “with God.” We live not before society, not before relatives, and not before colleagues, but before God. So the main question is not how prestigious my present position is, but how faithful I am to God right where he has placed me.
I meet many people who say, “I have no time to serve in the local church.” But if you ask them how the time they do have is spent, an honest answer usually reveals that the problem is not a lack of time, but that the time is spent on other things—most often on themselves and on various entertainments.
Conclusion
So we have seen four important truths.
First, God calls people from every walk of life.
Second, whether you were born a Jew or a Gentile, whether you were circumcised on the eighth day or not, makes no difference for salvation.
Third, social status does not determine our worth or our spirituality before God—whether slave or free, poor or rich.
Fourth, and this is the main thought: God calls us to be faithful where he has placed us.
From this follow several practical lessons:
- stop waiting for ideal circumstances in order to serve;
- do not build your identity on nationality or social status;
- do not judge people by their social standing;
- remember that you were bought with a price by Christ;
- be faithful to the Lord today, right where he has placed you.
For God seeks in his service not people with ideal circumstances, but people who remain faithful to him in any circumstances.
Amen.