Concerning Change of Status
1 Corinthians 7: 17-24 (NIRV)
But each believer should live in whatever situation the Lord has given them. Stay as you were when God chose you. That is the rule all the churches must follow. Was a man already circumcised when God chose him? Then he should not become uncircumcised. Was he uncircumcised when God chose him? Then he should not be circumcised. Being circumcised means nothing. Being uncircumcised means nothing. Doing what God commands is what counts. Each of you should stay as you were when God chose you.
Were you a slave when God chose you? Do not let it trouble you. But if you can get your master to set you free, do it. The person who was a slave when the Lord chose them is now the Lord’s free person. The one who was free when God chose them is now a slave of Christ. Christ has paid the price for you. Don’t become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person is accountable to God. So, each person should stay as they were when God chose them.
Paul’s instruction on marriage in Corinthians is more than just two-thousand-year-old instructions meant for a culture that no longer exists; the instructions are as relevant today as they were then. I suggest reading all of chapter seven. Nevertheless, the above verses have far-reaching connotations outside of marriage and these verses are the object of this discussion. Everything concerns relationships with each other, others, and most importantly, our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
What most of do is complain to God about our situation and circumstance; there is very little interest in living under conditions that are less than what is demanded. In modern marriage, it ends up being a competition between neighbors—they have a bigger house, a more expensive car, a boat and all the modern electronic gadgets money can buy. Instead of being content with our condition it off to the races to catch up with the neighbors. Consequence is indebtedness which leads to marital strife, and eventually bankruptcy and divorce. Paul states that we are to remain in the situation the Lord has given us—in other words, be thankful for what He has given us no matter the emotional letdown, or pride. People will not look down on anyone because they have less and are selfless, and good neighbors. Doing what God commands is what counts and being content with our current circumstances until God changes them displays our love and trust in Him.
As a person who was once enslaved to sin or a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free according to Paul and I can personally testify that Paul is correct because when I was first called, I was a slave to sin and when I accepted God’s call, I was set free from that enslavement. Now, I am as Paul put is, a slave of Christ. After all, Christ paid the price for our redemption from sin with His life. Think about it, if someone pays your debt, you are now indebted to that person and in either case, the accountability of our freedom and indebtedness is to God and not to any human being. What we do, we do because we love God and are thankful for what He has done for us. We remain as we were when chosen by God to be His servant (priests) under our high priest, Jesus Christ.
See: 1 Peter 2:5-9; Hebrews 7:11-24
Our relationship should be looked at two ways: 1. Our physical relationship with our wives, husbands, children, friends, and strangers. 2. Our spiritual relationship with God through Jesus Christ. What is most intriguing is that our spiritual relationship takes precedence since our earthly relationship mirrors our spiritual relationship with God. 1 Corinthians 13 truly illustrates how an earthly relationship that does not mirror our relationship with God differs.
If a believer is content to remain as they were when first called and develop a relationship with God, then His love in us will resonate in our earthly relationships. After all, if we give all we possess to the poor and give our bodies to all sorts of hardships thinking that as our sacrifice for sin just for the pride of boasting, we do not have love (God’s love) in us, then there is no gain.
The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Michael.
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