BIG IDEA:
EMBRACE WITH CONTENTMENT GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROVIDENTIAL DISPENSATION OF YOUR OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES AS YOU FOCUS ON SERVING CHRIST TO THE MAX
CONTEXT: MARITAL STATUS
Paul had been giving instruction in Chapter 7 regarding marital status. Apparently there was some level of discontent among the believers where there was an inordinate desire to change their state from single to married or from married to single. Maybe those who were in mixed marriages were envious of those who were in Christian unions. Maybe those who were married wished that they were single so that they could serve the Lord more devotedly. In any case, Paul feels a need to pause and address the wider problem of contentment with your assigned role in life. Each person must understand that God is providentially working in their circumstances. The priority must be on living by faith and obeying the commandments of Christ. Every person has opportunity to live out their calling from that perspective. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” For myself, I have this running joke with my family where when I start feeling sorry for myself or unhappy with my present circumstances I talk about “moving to Kansas” (= some nondescript place that is far away from my present situation). This passage addresses that struggle for contentment.
I. (:17) GENERAL PRINCIPLE: EMBRACE WITH CONTENTMENT GOD’S PARTICULAR CALLING FOR YOUR LIFE
A. Particular Application
(Repeated 2 other times: vv.20, 24 – Present Tense command – “let him walk”)
“Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk.”
1. Matter of Priority
“Only”
2. Matter of Providential Calling – applies to every realm of life
“Lord has assigned”
“God has called”
Rugh: Talking about the situation in which you find yourself when God saves you. That effectual call which results in our turning to God in saving faith.
3. Matter of Personal Application – no one can make this happen for you
“each one”
“called each”
“let him walk” = how we live out our Christian life; conduct ourselves
B. Universal Application
“And so I direct in all the churches.”
Still holds true for believers today – Don’t get this wrong!
II. (:18-20) CASE STUDY #1: CULTURAL, ETHNIC IDENTITY
A. (:18) Don’t Despise Your Calling
1. Called as Circumcised
“Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised.”
2. Called as Uncircumcised
“Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised.”
B. (:19) Focus on What Really Matters
1. Viewed Negatively
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing,”
2. Viewed Positively – Serve Christ to the Max by Focused Obedience
“but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.”
Rugh: Not talking here keeping the Mosaic law; Paul recognizes here that the law of Christ is now what is binding for the church. That is how he can say that circumcision is no longer important. Gal. 5:6; 6:15
C. (:20) General Principle Repeated for Emphasis
“Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.”
III. (:21-24) CASE STUDY #2: ECONOMIC, OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY
A. (:21-22) Don’t Despise Your Calling
1. Called as a Slave Man
“Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman;”
2. Called as a Free Man
“likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.”
Piper: He is saying that in the gospel there is an antidote for despair in menial jobs and an antidote for pride in highly esteemed jobs
B. (:23) Focus on What Really Matters
1. Viewed Positively – Serve Christ to the Max as one who has been redeemed from bondage to sin
“You were bought with a price;”
2. Viewed Negatively
“do not become slaves of men.”
MacArthur: Here Paul does not mean physical slavery but spiritual slavery. He is speaking of becoming slaves of the ways of men, the ways of the world, the ways of the flesh. That is the slavery into which many of the Corinthian believers had fallen, the slavery that caused their divisions and strife and their immaturity and immorality. . .
God allows us to be where we are and to stay where we are for a purpose. Conversion is not the signal for a person to leave his social condition, his marriage or his singleness, his human master, or his other circumstances. We are to leave sin and anything that encourages sin; but otherwise we are to stay where we are until God moves us.
C. (:24) General Principle Repeated for Emphasis
“Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.”