God’s Assignments: Duty and Honor (1 Corinthians 7)
12:30 PM
ScriptureReading for Thursday 4/9: 1 Corinthians 7
The church of Corinth had lots of questions about what they should and shouldn’t do, especially concerning marriage and other duties. Paul did his best to answer their questions in such a way that the people of that young church ultimately thought about what honoring God would look like in their particular circumstances. And so it should be for each of us. We have truth in His Word to guide us. With prayer and careful consideration, God guides each of us in the right and honorable path.
I liked the comments of John Calvin: “The Lord bids each one of us in all life’s actions to look to his calling. For he knows with what great restlessness human nature flames, with what fickleness is borne hither and thither, how its ambition longs to embrace various things at once. Therefore, lest through our stupidity and rashness everything be turned topsy-turvy, he has appointed duties for every man in his particular way of life. And that no one may thoughtlessly transgress his limits, he has named the various kinds of living “callings.” Therefore, each individual has his own kind of living assigned to him by the Lord as a sort of sentry post so he may not heedlessly wander about throughout life.
Each person is unique with unique life circumstances and a unique calling or assignment given by God to honor within those circumstances. As Paul discussed concerning marriage, different circumstances may dictate different decisions that are deemed “best” for each unique person in their particular situation. For some, they may be able to remain single and because they are single, dedicate more focus and service to God because they are not also having to be responsible to a family. For others, however, they may best be served to get married and honor God through their love and devotion to that family. The important thing, is that whether single or married, the focus God wants from us is to honor Him and extend His love through those circumstances.
We may be single or married. We may be rich or poor. We may be married to a believer or married to an unbeliever. We may be employed or in school, a stay at home mom, retired, disabled, etc. But whatever our circumstance, we need to trust God to be our guide and sustainer in whatever calling He has put on our life.
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him..” (v17)
SometimesGod provides opportunities for our circumstances to change. Sometimes, however, He assigns us to stay in our current circumstances and rely on Him to sustain us there. Always, we must above all, seek His guidance and will for our lives, remembering that we are His and this life is meant to honor Him. Don’t compare your circumstances with another and judge or complain. Focus on what God asks of you as you learn to rely on and honor Him.
“You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.” (v23-24)
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