Remain as you were when God first called you.

The principle of contentment.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (NLT)
¹⁷ Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches. ¹⁸ For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. ¹⁹ For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.
²⁰ Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.²¹ Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. ²² And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. ²³ God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. ²⁴ Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

Examine the scriptures:

We have been looking at instructions dealing with specific behaviors in the Corinthian Church.

Disputes within the church.

Sexual immorality.

Principles for marriage.

Today we will be looking at the principle of contentment.

Remain as you were when God first called you.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (NLT)
¹⁷ Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you.

 Verse 17 …remain as you were when God first called you.

Verse 20  … each of you should remain as you were when God called you

Verse 24  Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

 The principle of contentment.  (Being satisfied with your station in life)

• Live contentedly in whatever economic, social, and religious station God has placed you.

Content if you are single or content if you are married.

Content whatever your circumstances.

Paul practiced this principle:

Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)
¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

 Contentment is a good thing.

1 Timothy 6:6 (NLT)
⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

 Conversion is a radical change to a person’s relationship with God but it does not need to change physical relationships (that are not immoral).

Live contentedly in whatever economic, social, and religious station God has placed you.

Know what is important.

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
^… For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”

 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.

 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

•  God’s grace is all you need.

Paul’s first example.

 This is my rule for all the churches. ¹⁸ For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it.

Paul addresses circumcision, a religious practice.

 And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. ¹⁹ For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

Romans 2:25-29 (NLT)
²⁵ The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. ²⁶ And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? ²⁷ In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
²⁸ For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. ²⁹ No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

 Paul’s second example.

 ²⁰ Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.²¹ Are you a slave?

Paul addresses slavery, a social (economic, social, or vocational) issue.

 Don’t let that worry you—

 Galatians 3:28  (NLT)
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile. It doesn’t matter if you are a slave or free.  It doesn’t matter if you are a male or a female.  It doesn’t matter if you are married or single.  All Christians are one in Christ Jesus.

 but if you get a chance to be free, take it. 

•  Contentment does not mean that you do not try to better yourself.
• Contentment does not mean being lazy.

Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

Know who you are in Christ.

²² And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.  

 John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

 Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

•  Christians are a permanent part of God’s family.

 ²³ God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 

•  Christians in all stations of life should realize that their ultimate allegiance is to Christ.

Ephesians 6:5-8 (NLT)
Slaves and Masters
⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

 Every vocation becomes Christian service performed for the Lord.

 ²⁴ Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you. 

Contentment.   A final thought.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.