1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Do titles hold the key to verse 17, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” We have a fascination with titles; Pope, King, President, CEO, Rockstar, Movie star, Pro Player, but not so much with other titles like; maid, servant, sanitation worker, salesman, teacher, preacher, housewife and the list goes on and on. When I came into a relationship with Christ, I had titles, husband, dad, salesman, and weekend warrior for the Army.
As we got involved at our local church I wanted more titles, being a member of a local body of believers was not the title for a man who wanted to be of help to God. I never gave thought to asking the LORD about His desires for me, and if I had it would have been instructed to sit at the feet of a man who had walked with God and learn from him the ways of God. But in my zeal to do great things for God, I learned little but charged ahead and took on jobs in the church that were driven by a zeal for God but not with the leadership of His Spirit. That path leads one to little or no spiritual growth and sets you up for becoming full of self, and that leads to pride, and God hates pride!
My calling was to be a godly husband, and dad, to minister in the workplace and to study to show myself a workman that needs not to be ashamed. But God, I so enjoy saying those words, for He loved me too much to allow me to keep on the path of zeal without knowledge, and He allowed some wrecks that got my attention. I believe it is a path often put forth by well-intended church leaders who look at the title or desire of the person and send them into areas of the spiritual life they are not equipped for.
With that said, the apostle Paul is addressing a big issue in the early church, circumcision; to be or not to be was a big question and the Jewish believers wanted the non-Jew to do the act of removal of the male foreskin, for it was what had set them apart from the other nations. But under grace, they need not undo circumcision, or to be circumcised, for what matters is obeying God and looking to Jesus
Many a person who was owned by another came to be a follower of Christ, and Paul is telling them if you can earn your freedom do so, but if not, what matters is you are free in Christ. So the owner of a slave who was in Christ and the slave who was in Christ were both slaves to Christ. Verses 23-24 give this insight; “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.” For many years we have believed foolishly that ministry is found in a building called the local church. The church has many members but not all have the same gifts, you are the church, and your pastor’s main mission is to equip the church to do the work of the ministry. As a parent first and foremost with your children, it does not get the acclaim of the world press, but there is a cloud of witnesses watching both good and evil spiritual forces, and the end product is a bold witness to your neighbors and others in the faith. In your daily calling as a workplace minister no matter the title you have been given by the world, Christ in you can be a world changer.
The key to Isaiah's relationship with God lies in four important principles:
1. He had an instructed tongue. Isaiah had given over the rule of his life completely to God's purposes.
2. He knew the word of the Lord, which allowed him to sustain and encourage others.
3. He took the time to listen.
4. He did not flee from the tough assignments. He didn't shrink back.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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