1 Corinthians 7:17-24--Live as You Are Called

1 Corinthians 7:17-24
English Standard Version

Live as You Are Called
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17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in 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? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant 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 a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

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Remember that we are still in the context of marriage and family, so the "assignment" is to live in the station you are currently in--single, married, married with kids, a single parent, or maybe even someone who has been through the type of divorce that Paul was taking about where your spouse left you because of your conversion to Christianity.  Paul is now going to expand that argument through a bit and talk about a broader issue, but but he's coming right back to it in the next passage we'll study when he will address the issue of talking to the unmarried and the widows, so these verses should be seen in the light of that context.

Paul's main argument here is that we need to be content with the role that God has given us and each one should...not just in marriage or singleness, but whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, or any other way in which Christ has made you.  Be obedient to the commandments of God and be humble and content with what God has made you (but don't live in sin and blame that on God, for He has given you a new nature), living in a way that gives glory to God, not coveting that which God has given to someone else.  Trust Him to give you everything you need for what He has called you to be and do in Christ.