1 Corinthians 7:17-24: a reflection

17Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies. 18Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments. 20Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called. 21Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it. 22For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant. 23You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men. 24Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.

Paul gives the Corinthians a principle about their varied life circumstances: Let each person lead the life the Lord has assigned, and to which God has called him. Whatever a person's situation, circumcised or not, slave or free, married or single, Paul counsels contentment in it: Let each remain in the condition in which he was called, and there serve God. What matters, he says, is not so much changing our circumstances as being faithful to God within them. And he grounds it in a great truth: you were bought with a price, you belong to Christ.

Notice Paul's counsel: to serve God in whatever situation we find ourselves, rather than assuming we must change our circumstances first. He is not against improving one's situation where possible; but he insists that we can serve God faithfully wherever we are, in whatever condition, and that our standing before God does not depend on our external circumstances. What matters is faithfulness to God, which is possible in any situation.

That is a freeing perspective. We can imagine that we could really serve God, or that our life would really count, if only our circumstances were different, if we had a different job, situation, status, freedom. But Paul says: serve God where you are. Your present circumstances, whatever they are, are a place to be faithful to God, not an obstacle to it. Do not wait for your situation to change to begin serving God faithfully. Whatever your condition, married or single, employed or not, free or constrained, you can serve God there, and you belong to Christ, who bought you. Be faithful where God has placed you; that is where he calls you to serve him now.

Lord, Paul counseled your people to serve you in whatever condition they were called, remaining faithful to you within their circumstances rather than assuming they must change them first. Give me that contentment and faithfulness. I can imagine that I could really serve you, or that my life would really count, if only my circumstances were different. But you call me to serve you where I am. Help me see my present situation, whatever it is, as a place to be faithful to you, not an obstacle to it. Keep me from waiting for my circumstances to change to begin serving you. Whatever my condition, help me serve you there, remembering that I was bought with a price and belong to Christ. Make me faithful where you have placed me now.