1 Corinthians 7:17-19, 21-23
Ps Paul Cheng
~7 min read
Dear Bethelites,
Have you ever tried to encourage someone to serve the Lord and that person says to you, “Well, if only my circumstances were different, then surely I would be able to serve. If only I had a better job, or a less stressful job, or I was younger, or I had a better spouse, then I would be able to serve the Lord in a better capacity.”
What do you call this kind of thinking? Some pastors have called this “the Corinthian’s thinking.” Apparently, this was the situation with the Corinthians who were questioning, “If only I was married, or I was single, or I did not divorce and remarry, then I could really live for Christ.” That was why Paul had to write this portion of scriptures to address this kind of thinking.
Let us recap what Paul had dealt with in 1 Corinthians 7 so far (1) those who were singles and widows, it was good to remain as they were, (2) those who were already married, it was good to remain as they were, (3) those who were divorced, it was good to remain as unmarried or be reconciled to their spouses, (4) those who were married to unbelievers, it was good to remain as they were, and not divorce, (5) those who were married to unbelievers who wanted to divorce because of Christ, it was good to let them go and stay faithful to God.
Whenever we read through a particular chapter or passage, and there is a repetition of a particular idea or word, we know that it is the theme. The constant idea that is being repeated throughout this chapter is about remaining as you are; abide as you are, or stay as you are.
The word that is being repeated throughout this passage is the word “called,” or “calling” (it is repeated 8 times). Christianity is a calling; it begins with God calling us to be Christians (c.f. John 6:44). As we live our Christian life, God continues to call us into specific ministries, duties and responsibilities (some are called to be married, others are called to be parents, and yet others are called to be single). If that is what we have been called to be, then we ought to remain and be content with our calling. If we complained and hoped for a change of situation, then we have committed two sins: the sin of being discontented with God, and the sin of not fulfilling our calling. So, the first thing we ought to learn is to live according to our calling.
I. You must live according to your calling
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. (1 Corinthians 7:17)
The word walk is a metaphor for living, in other words, let him live. How should we live our lives? According as God hath distributed to every man!
God has supernaturally distributed to each of us a place in life.
We did not pick our parents, or the country we were born in, or our gender, or our IQ abilities. All these things were sovereignly distributed or assigned to us. This principle is universal, not just to the pastors, elders and deacons, but it applies to everyone. That was why Paul said, and so ordain I in all churches, which means this is what I have given to all the churches.
To further illustrate his point, the Apostle Paul gave two examples;
The example of circumcision or nationality
Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. (1 Corinthians 7:18)
The Jews practised circumcision and the Gentiles were not circumcised. In those days, there were Jews who came to faith in Christ, and obviously they were already circumcised. Interestingly, according to the historian Josephus, during the time when the Greeks or the Romans were ruling, some Jewish men who wanted to be accepted into the Greek and Roman society had surgery performed to make themselves appear uncircumcised. So, in a literal sense, they wanted to reverse the circumcision. There were other Jewish Christians who thought that was a way to demonstrate their total break away from Judaism; a clean cut from Judaism would be to reverse the circumcision. On the other hand, there were also Gentiles who wanted to be accepted by the Jews, and maybe they were taught wrongly that circumcision was necessary for salvation, or there was a special blessing that comes with circumcision, so they wanted to be circumcised.
In a sense, the Apostle Paul was saying, “Don’t do that! Were you saved when you were already circumcised? Yes, you were! Then remain as you are, and you do not need to be uncircumcised. Were you saved when you were uncircumcised? Yes, you were! Then remain as you are, you do not need to be circumcised.”
Paul went on to say, Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God (verse 19). It is possible that Paul could have used this illustration to describe the Jews and the Gentiles; the Jews representing the circumcision, and the Gentiles representing the uncircumcision. Therefore, it was not important whether you were a Jew or a Gentile, what was important was that you were a Christian. If you were a Christian, what was your most important duty? It was the keeping of the commandments of God!
Obedience is the only mark of faithfulness the Lord recognises, and we can be obedient to the Lord anywhere and in any circumstances. In our modern application, it does not matter whether you are an Australian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Greek or Korean, it is important that you be a Christian and that you live as one, keeping the commandments of God.
The example of slavery or social status
Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. (1 Corinthians 7:21)
The word servant (doulos) can mean a slave.
During the time of the Apostle Paul, about one third of the population were slaves. In those days, the slaves were better educated, more skilful and cultured than any other slaves throughout history. In fact, some doctors, teachers, accountants and other professionals were slaves. However, only a few of them were treated with respect, and the vast majority, of course, lived in constant poverty and under cruel owners.
Here the Apostle Paul was not approving or disapproving slavery; he was simply making a point that even if a person was a slave, he was still able to live a Christian life. He was still able to obey and serve Christ in slavery as if he was a free person. No circumstances, no matter how terrible, painful, or difficult they were, could keep the person from being a Christian.
So, Paul was like saying to the Corinthians, “If you were called to salvation when you were a slave, do not worry about it, just be content and be faithful as the Lord leads you. But if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. In other words, if you are able to become a free person, and if you are able to buy yourself out of slavery, you should do it. Surely freedom is better than slavery. If a Christian slave has the opportunity to become free, he should rather use it.
But the Christian slaves might say, “It is easy for you to say that because you are not a slave.” Well, Paul said in verse 22, For he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Indeed, some who were slaves when they were saved, but remember, they were also the Lord’s freeman.
What did the Lord free them from? No bondage was worse than being enslaved to sin, Satan and the judgment to hell. But Christ had delivered them from that bondage. In Christ, they had the greatest, most complete and glorious freedom ever.
Dear friend, let us take a moment and consider this important point. As a believer, you are the Lord’s freeman; you are freed from sin, Satan and hell. You will remain free forever and ever. Even if you are a slave, why should you be overly concerned about remaining in human bondage for a few years? With this perspective in mind, whatever trials you may have to go through, even if those trials may be very severe, or may even last a lifetime, it is only a short period of time because compared with eternity, it is but a little season. Soon, it would be over!
Those Corinthians who were free, and not slaves, might be proud and thinking that they were more blessed by God than the slaves, and their freedom meant they had the license to do as they pleased. Paul said to them, likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Your freedom in Christ is not freedom to sin but freedom from sin, it is not freedom to do your own will but freedom to do the Lord’s will. You are a servant, and your Master is the Lord Jesus Christ, and you are to please, honour and glorify Him. Why? Ye are bought with a price; (v.23), and that price according to 1 Peter 1:19 is with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
We were once servants of sin, Satan and judgment, but Christ has redeemed us by His precious blood, now we are His servants. So, we must never live our lives to be the servants of men, to live by man’s standards and seeking to please men. We live to please the One who died on the cross and shed His precious blood to redeem us from the penalty of our sins.
One day, all Christians who are servants of Christ, would have to give an account of how they have lived their lives. How have you lived your life? Have you lived your life according to the standards of the world and always seeking to please men? Or have you lived your life according to God’s standards and always seeking to please Him?
(To be continued in the next pastoral chat)
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
1 CORINTHIANS 7Singleness Or Marriage (Part 1)Singleness Or Marriage (Part 1)1 Corinthians 7:1, 6-7
Singleness Or Marriage (Part 2)Singleness Or Marriage (Part 2)1 Corinthians 7:2-5
Divorce and Remarriage (Part 1)Divorce and Remarriage (Part 1)1 Corinthians 7:10-11
Divorce and Remarriage (Part 2)Divorce and Remarriage (Part 2)1 Corinthians 7:12-16, 39
Be Faithful to Your Calling (Part 1)Be Faithful to Your Calling (Part 1)1 Corinthians 7:17-19, 21-23
Be Faithful to Your Calling (Part 2)Be Faithful to Your Calling (Part 2)1 Corinthians 7:20, 24
Should I Remain Single (Part 1)Should I Remain Single (Part 1)1 Corinthians 7:25-28
Should I Remain Single (Part 2)Should I Remain Single (Part 2)1 Corinthians 7:29-31
An Undivided Devotion To The Lord (Part 2)An Undivided Devotion To The Lord (Part 2)1 Corinthians 7:36-40
An Undivided Devotion To The Lord (Part 1)An Undivided Devotion To The Lord (Part 1)1 Corinthians 7:36-40