LIVE AS A BELIEVER IN YOUR SITUATION

Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Key verse: 19b

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)

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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.

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

We naturally desire and even work hard toward changing our present life circumstances. Whether driving toward more education, a better job, more money, higher social standing, marriage, etc., people tend to focus only on upgrading their situation. But believers in Jesus are commanded to be different. We should live as believers in our present situation. Twice in this passage, Paul encourages believers to remain in their God-given situation (20,24). This is not a license for us to be passive or complacent. Rather, we must first recognize and accept that God has placed us where we are so that we can live as believers in Jesus Christ. Our situation is an opportunity for us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In short, keeping God’s commands is what counts in our situation. Are you pleasing God in yours?

Paul’s encouragement does not ignore the reality that life situations can be hard. Some Corinthian Christians were still slaves. They should gain their freedom if they can. They should not become slaves to another, but only slaves to Jesus. Even if the person could not obtain freedom, that person is still responsible to God. Prioritize living as a believer in your situation rather than focusing only on changing your circumstances. That honors God.

Prayer: Father, you have placed me here to obey you. Help me to glorify you in my life situation.

One Word: Honor God in your situation