STAY WHERE YOU ARE

Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:17-31

Key verse: 17

NIV

Concerning Change of Status

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.(A) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.(B) 18 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.(C) 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.(D) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(E)

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;(F) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.(G) 23 You were bought at a price;(H) do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(I)

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(J) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(K) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(L) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(M) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(N) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(O) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(P)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Live as You Are Called

17 Only let each person lead the life[a] (A)that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. (B)This is my rule in (C)all the churches. 18 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? (D)Let him not seek circumcision. 19 (E)For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but (F)keeping the commandments of God. 20 (G)Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant[b] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is (H)a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is (I)a bondservant of Christ. 23 (J)You were bought with a price; (K)do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers,[c] (L)in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

The Unmarried and the Widowed

25 Now concerning[d] the betrothed,[e] (M)I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as (N)one who by the Lord's mercy is (O)trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present[f] distress (P)it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman[g] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: (Q)the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy (R)as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For (S)the present form of this world is passing away.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Or each person walk in the way
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:21 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verses 22 (twice), 23
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:24 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:25 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Greek virgins
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Greek virgin; also verse 34

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Stay where God put you (17-24)

We do not become better Christians by changing our human conditions. Only the change that Jesus makes within brings peace. A believer should not shop for a church for human reasons. We should stay in the place to which God has assigned us, put down roots and bear fruit. Rituals don't matter- obedience to God's commands does. In Paul's day, slavery was a legal institution. Paul did not directly attack the institution; he told slaves to serve God where they were. However, the principle of freedom and equality under God made a crack in the institution that finally broke it. Every person belongs to God. He made us. He bought us with a price.

2. The time is short (25-31)

Paul sees life in the perspective of eternity. In the short time we have in this world we should live for Jesus' sake and the gospel's, and not allow our hearts to become enslaved by the things of the world, for the world is passing away. Married or single, we should first give our hearts to God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to overcome circumstances and live for your glory where I am.

One Word: Serve God where you are