WEBVTT 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:05.379 Today we're going to turn again, if you would 00:00:05.379 --> 00:00:08.599 have your Bibles turned with me, to the book 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:11.859 of 1 Corinthians chapter 7, looking at verses 00:00:11.859 --> 00:00:17.019 17 through 24. The title of the sermon today 00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:24.019 is, A Call to a Contented Life. God's providence 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:28.760 in your present moment. A call to a contented 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:44.670 life. Begin reading in verse 17. Was anyone called 00:00:44.670 --> 00:00:48.189 while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 00:00:54.149 --> 00:00:58.789 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is 00:00:58.789 --> 00:01:02.520 nothing. But keeping the commandments of God 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:06.780 is what matters. Let each one remain in the same 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:11.420 calling in which he was called. Were you called 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:14.780 while a slave? Do not be concerned about it. 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:18.840 But if you can be made free, rather use it. For 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:22.079 he who is called in the Lord while a slave is 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:25.400 the Lord's freedman. Likewise, he who is called 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.840 while free is Christ's slave. You were bought 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:34.840 at a price. Do not become slaves of men. Brethren, 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:38.579 let each one remain with God in that state in 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:43.900 which he was called. Let's pray together. Father, 00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:47.400 thank you for this word. We pray, Lord, that 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:51.239 you would lead us as I expound upon it, Lord. 00:01:51.739 --> 00:01:53.840 Pray that you would give me the right words to 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:59.299 say, the right interpretation, Lord. Clear up 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:02.719 any perplexities, Lord. And we pray most of all 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:04.680 that you would speak to us, Lord, that you would 00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:06.640 lead us, that you would convict us where we need 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.340 convicted, and then encourage us, Lord, where 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:12.060 we need encouraged. We pray that in all, you 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:15.120 would receive all praise and glory. We ask in 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:21.360 Jesus' name. Amen. So in the midst of Paul's 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.560 teachings on marriage, on divorce, mixed marriages, 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:29.240 and singleness in chapter 7, Paul here makes 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:33.080 a short diversion to further consider the issue 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:37.259 of calling and contentment in the particular 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:39.740 life situation that Christian believers find 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:44.719 themselves in. Now the immediate context is the 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:49.020 peculiar situation of a believing spouse married 00:02:49.020 --> 00:02:53.300 to an unbeliever and the possibility of separation 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:56.599 or divorce. versus staying in the marriage. And 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:59.919 Paul gave instructions about that in the prior 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:04.300 verses. Paul says, but if the unbeliever departs, 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.099 let him depart. A brother or a sister is not 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:10.180 under bondage in such cases. But God has called 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:13.159 you to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:15.780 you will save your husband? Or how do you know, 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:19.000 O husband, whether you will save your wife? And 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:25.139 then he comes to this passage. There is a common 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:30.099 temptation to man to look at life through the 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:37.120 lens of if only. If only my spouse was a Christian 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:41.819 believer, or if only I would have done this, 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:44.719 or if I would have done that, or if I had only 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:48.120 not committed that sin, or would have done that 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:51.719 good thing. Even further down the rabbit hole 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:55.099 are thoughts like, if only I had married that 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:58.520 person instead of the one that I did, or if only 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:02.199 that eloquent or caring pastor could be my pastor, 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:05.460 or if only I could just have the gifts and calling 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:10.840 that this person has. Maybe you think, if only 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:14.599 I'd lived at whatever idealistic time in your 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:17.810 mind you think. Maybe that's colonial times or 00:04:17.810 --> 00:04:19.970 Victorian times or the time of the early church 00:04:19.970 --> 00:04:23.009 or when Jesus lived on the earth. Maybe you wish 00:04:23.009 --> 00:04:26.029 that you would have different physical characteristics 00:04:26.029 --> 00:04:29.329 and were taller or shorter or lighter in weight 00:04:29.329 --> 00:04:33.089 or had different parents. Discontentment often 00:04:33.089 --> 00:04:37.470 comes in three or more forms. One is circumstantial. 00:04:37.470 --> 00:04:40.689 If only this circumstance would change, then 00:04:40.689 --> 00:04:44.769 everything would be all right or I could do this. 00:04:45.599 --> 00:04:49.680 Or surroundings. If only the people around me 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.079 were different. Or the other circumstances. Or 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:55.720 the other surroundings. We might wish that our 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:57.879 country were different. Or our politics would 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:00.319 be better. Or our work, that we could do something 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:03.139 else. Or if only we didn't have the family that 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:05.680 we did. Or if only our family would be in this 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:10.069 particular way. Maybe, depending on... On where 00:05:10.069 --> 00:05:12.930 you live or the difficulty of racial characteristics, 00:05:13.029 --> 00:05:14.769 you might wish that you were a different race 00:05:14.769 --> 00:05:17.350 or that the people in your church were different. 00:05:18.350 --> 00:05:22.810 Or thirdly, this discontentment might take place 00:05:22.810 --> 00:05:25.850 with nostalgic depression. If only I had lived 00:05:25.850 --> 00:05:28.129 somewhere else or had been born in a different 00:05:28.129 --> 00:05:31.829 time. Now the key to a satisfied and a fulfilled 00:05:31.829 --> 00:05:35.050 life is this, as Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 00:05:35.050 --> 00:05:42.339 6, verse 6. with contentment is great gain. And 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:44.699 Paul is going to teach on this in our passage 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:49.769 today. But before I begin... I must answer a 00:05:49.769 --> 00:05:52.189 question that will likely come up in your mind 00:05:52.189 --> 00:05:55.449 very quickly as we go through this. In fact, 00:05:55.449 --> 00:05:58.170 it might even shout at you. A question that could 00:05:58.170 --> 00:06:00.250 stop you from hearing the word of God in this 00:06:00.250 --> 00:06:03.930 passage. And that question is this. Is Paul saying 00:06:03.930 --> 00:06:07.529 here, does the word of God mean that we cannot 00:06:07.529 --> 00:06:11.269 change anything in our lives for the better? 00:06:11.410 --> 00:06:14.129 That we cannot find another job or move somewhere 00:06:14.129 --> 00:06:17.720 else or improve our circumstances? And the answer 00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:21.100 is very simple. By no means. God has given us 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:23.800 great freedom to make moves or to change circumstances 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:27.459 or to have ambition and to pursue things. But 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:31.079 all of that can be done while still maintaining 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:36.300 a strong reserve and well of contentment. John 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:39.420 Calvin puts this so well. He says, Paul is only 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:43.930 seeking to check those impulses. uncontrolled 00:06:43.930 --> 00:06:48.490 by reason, which drive men thither and hither, 00:06:48.629 --> 00:06:53.209 so that they are confused by their own restlessness. 00:06:53.889 --> 00:06:57.290 Ever the insightful and shepherding pastor, Calvin 00:06:57.290 --> 00:07:00.089 puts his finger right on the thing that was troubling 00:07:00.089 --> 00:07:02.689 the Corinthians regarding marriage, regarding 00:07:02.689 --> 00:07:06.350 gifts, and other matters, and this so often troubles 00:07:06.350 --> 00:07:11.480 us as well, and that is our restlessness. Our 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:15.579 restlessness, that stirring of the heart, the 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:18.639 complaining and the murmuring, or that drive 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:22.740 which is unsettled, it is disturbed, dissatisfied, 00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:27.899 discontented, and not at peace. Just like the 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:32.300 restless waves of the sea roaring within, or 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:35.819 like Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes when he 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:39.759 says, therefore I hated life. Because the work 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:42.220 that was done under the sun was distressing to 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:47.339 me. For all is vanity and grasping of the wind. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:51.120 Grasping of the wind. Go out to the 20 and 30 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.300 and 40 mile an hour winds that we had last night. 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:56.319 And try to grasp it. And you cannot. And that 00:07:56.319 --> 00:08:02.319 is how he felt about life. Restlessness. Restlessness 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:05.720 is a scourge that will steal your joy. It will 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:08.459 diminish your enjoyment of life. And it will 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:12.800 leave you dissatisfied and empty. Always seeking 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:16.240 the next best thing and never able to find it. 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:19.639 Just like that mythical pot of gold at the end 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:23.290 of a rainbow. The answer to godly contentment 00:08:23.290 --> 00:08:26.290 and the ceasing of restlessness is found in our 00:08:26.290 --> 00:08:30.250 passage today. And Paul emphasizes it most emphatically. 00:08:30.670 --> 00:08:35.049 He repeats himself three times in these eight 00:08:35.049 --> 00:08:38.470 verses. Three times. So let's hear the word of 00:08:38.470 --> 00:08:41.230 God as he expounds it. The governing principle 00:08:41.230 --> 00:08:46.350 of this passage is walk in the calling that God 00:08:46.350 --> 00:08:51.419 has assigned to you. And this is in verse 17. 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:56.139 As God has distributed to each one, as the Lord 00:08:56.139 --> 00:09:01.740 has called each one, so let him walk. And so 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:07.519 I ordain, Paul says, in all the churches. Let's 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:25.120 break this apart. God has distributed This is 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.399 stated by this very matter -of -fact statement. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:31.539 God has distributed to every man as the Lord 00:09:31.539 --> 00:09:34.360 has called anyone, and so we are to walk. Now 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:37.539 Paul, on his journey from Berea to Corinth, stopped 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:41.070 by the city of Athens. And he went to a central 00:09:41.070 --> 00:09:43.629 place in the city. It was called the Areopagus. 00:09:43.850 --> 00:09:46.029 And it was the public place where the city council 00:09:46.029 --> 00:09:48.929 would meet and where notable speakers would come 00:09:48.929 --> 00:09:52.250 and would expound or propound new ideas. And 00:09:52.250 --> 00:09:54.889 there he was preaching to the Epicurean and the 00:09:54.889 --> 00:09:57.690 Stoic philosophers. And he made this very profound 00:09:57.690 --> 00:10:02.090 statement. He said, God, who made the world and 00:10:02.090 --> 00:10:04.789 everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven 00:10:04.789 --> 00:10:08.639 and earth, does not dwell in temples made with 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:11.820 hands. Nor is he worshipped with men's hands, 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:15.200 as though he needed anything, since he gives 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:19.940 to all life, breath, and all things. And then 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:24.899 hear this. And he has made from one blood every 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:29.179 nation of men to dwell on all the face of the 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:33.039 earth and has determined their pre -appointed 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:38.549 times. And the boundaries of their dwellings. 00:10:39.090 --> 00:10:44.289 Their times and their dwellings. God gave you 00:10:44.289 --> 00:10:48.610 life. He gave you breath. He gave you all things. 00:10:48.730 --> 00:10:52.730 And determined in his own sovereign inscrutable 00:10:52.730 --> 00:10:57.029 will. That you would be here today. That you 00:10:57.029 --> 00:11:00.940 would live in this particular time. in the United 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:04.139 States of America, in the home where you dwell, 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:08.240 with the parents that you have, and the children 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:12.059 that you have born. This is all by the hand of 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:16.379 Almighty God, who has appointed it so. This is 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:21.340 the doctrine of God's providence, which is brought 00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:23.840 to life in our passage today. For the principle 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:27.320 in this passage is not only about marriage, what 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:30.460 came before, the immediate context. No, this 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:33.919 principle applies to every area of life. And 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:36.019 Paul then is going to go on and deal with two 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:39.279 circumstances that were very pertinent to the 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:42.519 Corinthians. The circumstances of circumcision 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:45.919 and slavery. We're going to consider that in 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.419 a moment. Then he says the Lord has called each 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:53.500 one. So this distribution from God includes a 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:57.379 call from the Lord. Now here's a question. Is 00:11:57.379 --> 00:12:01.320 Paul, is this passage referring to God's call 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:07.799 of salvation? Or is he speaking of our vocation, 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:10.779 the particular gifts and opportunities that are 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:14.080 given to us? Paul does not say specifically, 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:18.019 but I think he's referring to both. It seems 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:20.620 like the first part of the passage is speaking 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:23.990 of God's call of salvation. But then Paul also 00:12:23.990 --> 00:12:27.490 tells us to remain in the same calling in verse 00:12:27.490 --> 00:12:30.570 20, which would indicate the life situation and 00:12:30.570 --> 00:12:32.669 the vocation that we have. So let's consider 00:12:32.669 --> 00:12:35.610 each one. God has called us, first of all, by 00:12:35.610 --> 00:12:39.690 the gospel to salvation and to sanctification. 00:12:40.230 --> 00:12:43.629 Paul tells the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 00:12:43.629 --> 00:12:47.309 2, verse 13 to 15, he says, But we are bound 00:12:47.309 --> 00:12:50.929 to give thanks to God always for you, brethren 00:12:50.929 --> 00:12:55.970 beloved of the Lord, Because God from the beginning 00:12:55.970 --> 00:13:01.990 chose you for salvation. Through sanctification. 00:13:02.110 --> 00:13:06.309 By the spirit and belief of the truth. To which 00:13:06.309 --> 00:13:11.590 he called you by our gospel. For the obtaining 00:13:11.590 --> 00:13:14.909 of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore 00:13:14.909 --> 00:13:18.740 brethren stand fast. And hold the traditions 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:22.059 which you were taught, whether by word or our 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:26.580 apostle. So as we consider this call to salvation, 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:31.659 Paul is emphasizing here how that God chose you 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:36.240 for your salvation. You did not initially choose 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:41.700 God. Rather, you responded to him because he 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:45.539 chose you for salvation and he called you by 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:49.210 his name. gospel for the obtaining of glory. 00:13:49.350 --> 00:13:53.100 This is quite a statement. Now this is what is 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:56.200 generally called the doctrine of election. That 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:59.600 is the gracious choosing of people to be saved 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:03.059 in Christ. And they are given faith. They are 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:07.759 justified and sanctified and glorified. For this 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:12.299 call is according to God's purpose for you. Paul 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:15.340 expands on this in Romans. Romans chapter 8 verse 00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:18.779 28 and 30. He says, and we know that all things 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:21.259 work together for good to those who love God. 00:14:21.230 --> 00:14:25.889 God get this to those who are the called they 00:14:25.889 --> 00:14:29.830 are the called according to his purpose for whom 00:14:29.830 --> 00:14:33.450 he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed 00:14:33.450 --> 00:14:36.149 to the image of his son that he might be the 00:14:36.149 --> 00:14:39.830 firstborn among many brethren moreover whom he 00:14:39.830 --> 00:14:44.669 predestined Those he also called. Again, we see 00:14:44.669 --> 00:14:48.429 this call that comes here. Whom he called, these 00:14:48.429 --> 00:14:51.950 he also justified. And whom he justified, these 00:14:51.950 --> 00:14:54.669 he also glorified. Now there are many other scriptures 00:14:54.669 --> 00:14:57.529 that could attest to this glorious fact. But 00:14:57.529 --> 00:14:59.570 I'm not going to take the time to develop this 00:14:59.570 --> 00:15:02.029 further. Simply the point here is that there 00:15:02.029 --> 00:15:05.429 is a call to salvation that comes from God. And 00:15:05.429 --> 00:15:07.629 it quickens the dead and makes them come alive. 00:15:07.870 --> 00:15:10.070 And they trust in him and believe in him and 00:15:10.070 --> 00:15:12.340 they have faith. and walk it out and work it 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:17.919 out. So, in this passage... God's call to salvation 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:21.120 is definitely the backdrop, but this call, this 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:25.100 text then also refers to God's call more particularly 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:28.700 to you in how you work it out, how you walk it 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.259 out. That is working out your salvation, but 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:34.559 also experiencing his call in your vocation. 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:37.879 That is the calling that you have to the earthly 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:41.279 condition or your station in life, the life situation. 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:44.679 including your ordinary occupations and roles. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:48.799 God gave you the gifts that you have, the opportunities 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:52.620 that you have, the abilities you have, even determined 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:55.840 the sex that you are and the abilities that he 00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:00.019 created you with. I cannot help it that I will 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:02.779 never be able to bear a child because I am not 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:05.779 a woman. God made me a man. And to you women 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:08.899 who are here, God gave you that gift. It comes 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:13.440 from him and was determined by him. Paul then 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.879 says, so let him walk. Walk according to this 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:20.179 call. So every person is to walk according to 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:23.019 God's distribution. That's his providence. And 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:25.659 also according to the Lord's call in salvation 00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:29.970 and in vocation. To walk here is to make one's 00:16:29.970 --> 00:16:33.850 way. It is to progress in life, to make due use 00:16:33.850 --> 00:16:36.269 of opportunities that God sovereignly brings 00:16:36.269 --> 00:16:39.649 your way. It is to regulate your life so that 00:16:39.649 --> 00:16:42.029 you conduct yourself in a way that makes use 00:16:42.029 --> 00:16:46.389 of the gifts and the abilities that God has given 00:16:46.389 --> 00:16:50.710 to you to work it out. The purpose of this is 00:16:50.710 --> 00:16:54.070 that God is glorified in your walk and with your 00:16:54.070 --> 00:16:57.899 gifts. Peter says, as each one has received a 00:16:57.899 --> 00:17:01.960 gift, minister it to one another as good stewards 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:06.019 of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:09.319 let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:12.160 ministers, let him do it as the ability which 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:16.299 God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:20.220 through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:24.210 and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. That's 00:17:24.210 --> 00:17:27.839 in 1 Peter 4, verse 10 and 11. Thus, Paul in 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.380 Romans chapter 12, he says, of the gifts differing 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:33.680 according to the grace that is given us, let 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.440 us use them. Romans 12 verse 6. We find the same 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.859 truth in the parable of the talents that Jesus 00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:43.319 gave, as well as many other illustrations in 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:45.740 the word of God. So this truth is not unique 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:49.259 to the Corinthians. It is universal to all of 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:51.920 us. Now we know that, but Paul already makes 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:55.079 a special point of it. He says, I command this. 00:17:55.470 --> 00:17:58.670 In all of the churches, I'm telling all the churches 00:17:58.670 --> 00:18:02.250 wherever I go, this self -same thing, this very 00:18:02.250 --> 00:18:07.890 thing, they are to abide in God's call and God's 00:18:07.890 --> 00:18:11.990 distribution. There are times when God pours 00:18:11.990 --> 00:18:14.839 out special gifts on people. They might become 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:17.940 famous or maybe renowned. Perhaps they have great 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:20.980 responsibilities or weighty decisions. Maybe 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:23.160 they have the responsibility of nations or of 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:25.759 churches or of denominations or of worldwide 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:29.000 business that lie on their shoulders. God poured 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.960 out His Spirit in unique ways on the Apostle 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:34.740 Paul and the other apostles. Unique things that 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:38.910 no one else has had like it. He's done so, he's 00:18:38.910 --> 00:18:41.309 poured out his spirit on great men of the past 00:18:41.309 --> 00:18:45.569 and the present. But by the same spirit, he calls 00:18:45.569 --> 00:18:51.829 most Christians to live a normal Christian life. 00:18:52.170 --> 00:18:58.269 A normal Christian life. God calls husbands to 00:18:58.269 --> 00:19:03.250 faithfully love their wives. Wives to love and 00:19:03.250 --> 00:19:06.650 reverence her husband. to care for the children, 00:19:06.849 --> 00:19:09.829 to do the many normal tasks of life. Some might 00:19:09.829 --> 00:19:11.609 say, well, this sounds almost boring. I want 00:19:11.609 --> 00:19:14.630 to do something great for God. I want to be noble, 00:19:14.809 --> 00:19:17.970 something that is renowned. No, to most everybody, 00:19:18.049 --> 00:19:21.529 you do the normal things of life that God has 00:19:21.529 --> 00:19:24.930 given to you. Love your wife, love your husband, 00:19:25.130 --> 00:19:30.230 care for them. The fact that God calls most Christians 00:19:30.230 --> 00:19:33.849 to exactly this kind of life. For this is the 00:19:33.849 --> 00:19:36.690 active and faithful walking with God in the place 00:19:36.690 --> 00:19:39.269 that he has set before you. You get up in the 00:19:39.269 --> 00:19:42.410 morning and sometime during the day you read 00:19:42.410 --> 00:19:44.369 the word of God and you pray or you minister 00:19:44.369 --> 00:19:46.509 to your children and to your wife or to your 00:19:46.509 --> 00:19:49.369 husband. If you're a husband and a father, you 00:19:49.369 --> 00:19:51.589 love your wife and you pray with her or you wash 00:19:51.589 --> 00:19:54.069 her in the word. You minister to your household 00:19:54.069 --> 00:19:56.410 and you lead them well and then you work diligently 00:19:56.410 --> 00:20:00.079 at your job. You show hospitality as God gives 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.819 you opportunity. You pray for others. You attempt 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:05.680 to shepherd well those whom God has placed in 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:08.859 your care. You seek to be a wise steward of your 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:11.599 finances and you build relationships with the 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:13.720 hope of furthering Christ's kingdom and making 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:16.700 disciples. And wise with a few difference you 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:19.859 do likewise in fulfilling your calling and responsibilities. 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:23.759 And so the apostle speaks and commands in all 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:28.269 the churches. So important is this to Paul as 00:20:28.269 --> 00:20:31.230 he is teaching that he repeats this command twice 00:20:31.230 --> 00:20:36.069 more. Verse 20, let each one remain in the same 00:20:36.069 --> 00:20:39.529 calling in which he was called. And then again 00:20:39.529 --> 00:20:43.289 in verse 24, brethren, let each one remain with 00:20:43.289 --> 00:20:47.750 God in that state in which he was called. One 00:20:47.750 --> 00:20:50.009 would think he's really driving this point home. 00:20:50.490 --> 00:20:53.650 But then he gives two illustrations. We're going 00:20:53.650 --> 00:20:56.650 to look at both of them. The first illustration 00:20:56.650 --> 00:20:59.829 is that of circumcision versus uncircumcision. 00:21:00.109 --> 00:21:02.970 He says, was anyone called while circumcised? 00:21:03.089 --> 00:21:05.930 Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone 00:21:05.930 --> 00:21:10.130 called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 00:21:10.710 --> 00:21:13.589 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is 00:21:13.589 --> 00:21:15.609 nothing, but the keeping of the commandments 00:21:15.609 --> 00:21:18.430 of God is what matters. So he says, was anyone 00:21:18.430 --> 00:21:20.529 called while circumcised? Let him not become 00:21:20.529 --> 00:21:24.900 uncircumcised. Now one might ask, how does one 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:28.359 become uncircumcised? After all, historically 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:31.240 though, in the time of the New Testament writings, 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.839 there was a surgical procedure that attempted 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:38.240 this. Because all Jews were circumcised, and 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:41.119 because of the way, the lifestyle that they lived 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:43.900 with the bathhouses and the gymnasiums and races. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.440 One state of being circumcised or uncircumcised 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:50.359 was rather obvious sometimes. So what happened 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:52.960 is that Hellenistic Jews, who were Jewish people 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.779 in the ancient times, who spoke the Greek language 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:58.460 and lived outside of Judea in a kind of adopted 00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:01.759 Greek culture, they then would undergo a procedure 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:05.660 to make them appear uncircumcised. And so this 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:08.039 is why Paul would say this is actually a fact 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:11.779 here. They wanted not to be obviously Jewish. 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:14.700 But on the other hand, there were some who were 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:17.079 teaching that Christians should become Jews and 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:19.900 they should be circumcised. This actually was 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:22.859 the thing that sparked the very first great church 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:26.299 council in Acts chapter 15 and verse 1. And certain 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:28.759 men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:33.079 unless you are circumcised, you cannot be saved. 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:38.750 And again, chapter 15, verse 5. Some of the sect 00:22:38.750 --> 00:22:40.930 of the Pharisees who believed rose up saying 00:22:40.930 --> 00:22:44.789 it is necessary to circumcise them and to command 00:22:44.789 --> 00:22:47.410 them to keep the law of Moses. And so the apostles 00:22:47.410 --> 00:22:49.529 and the elders came together to consider this 00:22:49.529 --> 00:22:52.849 matter. And they concluded that no, this is not 00:22:52.849 --> 00:22:55.789 necessary for them to be circumcised. They can 00:22:55.789 --> 00:22:59.529 remain Gentiles. This is the big issue in the 00:22:59.529 --> 00:23:02.190 early church, especially as it progressed from 00:23:02.190 --> 00:23:05.930 initially being primarily Jewish. Until the Gentiles 00:23:05.930 --> 00:23:08.549 were grafted in and then the gospel permeated 00:23:08.549 --> 00:23:11.769 Gentile society and the Christian faith became 00:23:11.769 --> 00:23:14.210 much more cosmopolitan, much more widespread 00:23:14.210 --> 00:23:17.750 and less distinctively Jewish. Paul then says 00:23:17.750 --> 00:23:20.130 this, he makes this very shocking statement. 00:23:20.589 --> 00:23:24.289 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is 00:23:24.289 --> 00:23:27.410 nothing. So he illustrates God's calling in this 00:23:27.410 --> 00:23:31.049 way. If you're a Jew, don't seek to become a 00:23:31.049 --> 00:23:34.390 Gentile. If you're a Gentile, Don't become a 00:23:34.390 --> 00:23:37.950 Jew. External markers like this do not enhance 00:23:37.950 --> 00:23:41.410 or diminish one's standing before God. Neither 00:23:41.410 --> 00:23:44.769 seeking circumcision nor seeking to reverse it 00:23:44.769 --> 00:23:48.170 carries spiritual weight. Instead, what really 00:23:48.170 --> 00:23:50.789 matters is the keeping of the commandments of 00:23:50.789 --> 00:23:53.589 God. That is, obedience to God's law and word 00:23:53.589 --> 00:23:56.430 in the whole Bible as progressively revealed 00:23:56.430 --> 00:23:59.509 from Old Testament to New Testament and flowing 00:23:59.509 --> 00:24:03.759 from the new identity in Christ. We see this 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:07.900 so clearly and yet it was such a big thing. It's 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:10.559 this restlessness again that I described earlier. 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:15.000 Oh, if only I would be this way. To the Hellenistic 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:17.619 Jew is only if I could be a Gentile and act like 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:19.599 them and be like them. So I'm going to do what 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:22.259 I can so that I can fit in. Or the other way 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:27.539 around. No, it didn't matter. He says, it is 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:31.329 nothing. Of course, Paul repeats this to the 00:24:31.329 --> 00:24:35.089 Galatians in chapter 6, verse 15. He says, for 00:24:35.089 --> 00:24:41.049 in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision 00:24:41.049 --> 00:24:49.069 avails anything but a new creation. And as many 00:24:49.069 --> 00:24:52.150 as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy 00:24:52.150 --> 00:24:56.869 be upon them and upon the Israel of God. Now 00:24:56.869 --> 00:24:59.170 we can certainly take this and apply it to other 00:24:59.170 --> 00:25:02.569 areas in our life as well. Things that might 00:25:02.569 --> 00:25:05.450 really matter. For example, we could talk about 00:25:05.450 --> 00:25:09.329 the issues of race. Some might wish, oh, I would 00:25:09.329 --> 00:25:11.789 be more acceptable to God if I were this particular 00:25:11.789 --> 00:25:14.910 race or that particular race or whatever it is. 00:25:14.970 --> 00:25:17.349 And yet we're all created in the image of God. 00:25:17.430 --> 00:25:22.279 And so again, it is nothing. Be thankful for 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:24.720 where you were born. Be thankful for the blessings 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:27.140 and the privileges that you have that God has 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:29.980 specifically granted to you. But don't sweat 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:33.640 it. Don't long to be, oh, if only I were this 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:39.700 or that. No, you trust in the Lord that he has 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:43.359 made you in the way that he has. And so also 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:46.960 it was with circumcision and uncircumcision. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:51.500 The second illustration that Paul uses, Is that 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:56.420 of slavery or freedom? Verses 21 to 23. He says, 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:59.440 Let each one remain in the same calling in which 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:02.460 he was called. Were you called while a slave? 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:05.319 Do not be concerned about it. But you can be 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:08.640 made free, if you can be made free. Rather, use 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:11.279 it. For he who is called in the Lord while a 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:14.099 slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise, he who 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:17.380 is called while free is Christ's slave. You were 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:20.579 bought with a price. Do not become slaves of 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:24.420 men. So Paul addresses here slavery and freedom 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.880 as another illustration. Again, this was very 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:30.359 real. Slavery being quite commonplace in the 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:34.140 Roman and the Greek empires. Many slaves had 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:36.980 come to be part of the Christian church. Now 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:40.759 some of the slavery was horrific. Chained gangs 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:44.039 working in mines with beatings and minimal food. 00:26:44.910 --> 00:26:48.730 short life expectancies only to be replaced again 00:26:48.730 --> 00:26:52.369 as soon as they were dead. Large farms and ranches 00:26:52.369 --> 00:26:55.769 used chained field gangs. Runaways were hunted, 00:26:55.970 --> 00:26:59.289 and recaptured slaves could be branded on their 00:26:59.289 --> 00:27:01.910 faces or on their foreheads, or they could be 00:27:01.910 --> 00:27:06.190 collared or flogged or even crucified. Galley 00:27:06.190 --> 00:27:08.809 slaves were rowers chained to benches in the 00:27:08.809 --> 00:27:12.029 ships and driven by the whip with high mortality 00:27:12.029 --> 00:27:16.890 from exhaustion. and disease and battle. Some 00:27:16.890 --> 00:27:20.009 of the slaves were trained as gladiators. Sexual 00:27:20.009 --> 00:27:23.549 exploitation was a feature of the slave system. 00:27:23.950 --> 00:27:27.710 But some slaves were also trusted slaves where 00:27:27.710 --> 00:27:30.710 they worked as secretaries or teachers or accountants 00:27:30.710 --> 00:27:34.630 or even doctors. And yet, Paul says, were you 00:27:34.630 --> 00:27:38.430 called while a slave? Don't be concerned about 00:27:38.430 --> 00:27:41.950 it. Do not be anxious about your social status. 00:27:42.809 --> 00:27:46.769 Even in slavery, there could be contentment without 00:27:46.769 --> 00:27:51.829 the restlessness. However, if there was a possibility 00:27:51.829 --> 00:27:55.849 of freedom, he encouraged them to take it, that 00:27:55.849 --> 00:27:59.630 they should, if possible, to take it. Alistair 00:27:59.630 --> 00:28:02.509 Begg gives this illustration and he says, some 00:28:02.509 --> 00:28:05.930 slaves could buy their freedom. They were able 00:28:05.930 --> 00:28:08.809 to work side jobs, give a percentage to the owner, 00:28:08.970 --> 00:28:11.609 and then they would deposit the rest at the temple. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:15.660 Once the market rate for the slave was deposited, 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:20.819 then the slave would take the master to the temple. 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:23.640 The master then would receive the money from 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:27.299 the temple, and the slave would become free from 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:31.200 the master, but a slave to the God, to the God 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:35.180 of the temple. In essence then, buying his freedom. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:39.900 By becoming a slave of the God, they became free. 00:28:40.509 --> 00:28:43.089 Well, Paul uses this thing that was happening 00:28:43.089 --> 00:28:46.230 there, and he shows how this works spiritually 00:28:46.230 --> 00:28:49.529 with Christ. That is, he who is called in the 00:28:49.529 --> 00:28:53.589 Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise, 00:28:53.690 --> 00:28:57.369 he who is called while free is Christ's slave. 00:28:57.490 --> 00:29:01.289 We respond to Christ. We are under his authority, 00:29:01.589 --> 00:29:05.950 yes. But slavery to Christ actually brings great 00:29:05.950 --> 00:29:10.000 freedom. Great freedom. Freedom in Christ was 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:12.720 not dependent on their circumstances of being 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:17.279 a slave or of getting their freedom. This was 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:20.220 indeed revolutionary teaching, and it set the 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:23.279 slaves free to serve the Lord with a cheerful 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:28.259 heart, even while serving their masters, but 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:30.759 also to make use of the opportunities for freedom 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:33.960 as they came. Slaves were full members of the 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:36.460 Christian church. Sometimes they would actually 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:39.519 worship together with their masters, with other 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:43.400 free people. There are many, many of the epistles 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:47.119 have references and instructions to slaves and 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:51.339 to servants as well as masters. Ephesians 6 verse 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:54.460 5, bond servants be obedient to those who are 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:57.099 your masters according to the flesh with fear 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:59.319 and trembling and sincerity of heart is unto 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:02.559 Christ. And then verse 9, and you masters do 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:05.220 the same things to them. Giving up threatening, 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:08.000 knowing that your own master also is in heaven 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:11.539 and there's no partiality with him. Same in Colossians 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:15.039 chapter 3 verse 22. Bond servants, obey in all 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:18.000 things your masters according to the flesh, not 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:21.140 with eye service as men pleasers, but in sincerity 00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:24.619 of heart, fearing God. And then chapter 4 verse 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:27.640 1. Masters, give your bond servants what is just 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:30.920 and fair, knowing that you also have a master 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:34.400 in heaven. Things like this were repeated in 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:37.799 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 1 and 2, in Titus 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:41.319 chapter 2, verse 9 and 10, and in 1 Peter 2, 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:45.039 verse 18. Paul makes the point here that you 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:48.500 were bought with a price. That is the precious 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:52.819 blood of Christ, verse 23. This points back to 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:55.420 his statement in chapter 6, verse 20 of 1 Corinthians. 00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:58.619 You were bought at a price, therefore glorify 00:30:58.619 --> 00:31:00.960 God in your body and in your spirit, which are 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:05.140 God's. Therefore, even if you are a slave, refuse 00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:08.480 to become enslaved to human masters or human 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:12.279 system in a way that compromises loyalty to the 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:15.880 Lord. For again, there is neither Jew nor Greek, 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:18.539 there is neither slave nor free, there is neither 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:22.420 male nor female, for you are all one in Christ 00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:27.619 Jesus. He says, do not care about or be concerned 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:31.309 about it, but then use freedom if you can. And 00:31:31.309 --> 00:31:34.789 then again emphasizes, let each remain with God 00:31:34.789 --> 00:31:38.710 in that state in which he was called. And this 00:31:38.710 --> 00:31:42.509 is the final restatement in verse 24. The command 00:31:42.509 --> 00:31:45.230 is personal and communal. Brethren, I speak to 00:31:45.230 --> 00:31:48.250 you, brethren. But here he gives the key qualifier, 00:31:48.329 --> 00:31:52.970 and that is with God. Let each one remain with 00:31:52.970 --> 00:31:58.289 God. If we're going to learn to be content. And 00:31:58.289 --> 00:32:01.809 to quiet that restlessness within us, we must 00:32:01.809 --> 00:32:06.390 be with God. Where we have committed our way 00:32:06.390 --> 00:32:10.990 to Him, and we will trust Him that He will help 00:32:10.990 --> 00:32:14.970 us to either accept the circumstances or to bring 00:32:14.970 --> 00:32:19.549 about something else in His own good time. But 00:32:19.549 --> 00:32:23.769 this is hard. I know. You're in a difficult circumstance. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:27.500 And maybe sometimes what can even make it harder 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:29.539 is you're in this circumstance because of your 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:33.299 own sin. And so now you're having to deal with 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:36.980 the consequences of that sin. And you know, God's 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:39.940 providence still is at work in you despite that 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:42.920 sin. So what's so amazing about God's providence 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:47.180 is that he's still watching over you and he's 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:50.339 guiding your life even though you're experiencing 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:54.559 the results of your sin. God does this. in an 00:32:54.559 --> 00:33:00.119 amazing and marvelous way. We must remain with 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:04.339 God. Remaining is not some stoic endurance, but 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:06.319 it's remaining in fellowship with God in the 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:09.039 place that he has assigned, because external 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:12.519 change is secondary, but abiding communion with 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:17.039 God in the present calling is primary. Now this 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:20.039 is very important to note. The three verses here 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:24.069 that emphasize this command do not mean, Just 00:33:24.069 --> 00:33:29.470 a passive resignation. Oh, well, what can be? 00:33:29.910 --> 00:33:34.950 I just have to accept it. What will be, will 00:33:34.950 --> 00:33:41.140 be, or que sera, sera. No, it's not that. The 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:44.180 verses emphasizing this command do not mean mere 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:47.880 passive resignation, but rather an active, faithful 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:51.380 walking with God in the place that he has set 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:55.680 for you, accepting his will in the matter. It's 00:33:55.680 --> 00:34:00.440 an active and a faithful walking with God, an 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:03.480 active trust, walking with the Lord in obedience 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:09.489 to his word. Let's consider just a few applications 00:34:09.489 --> 00:34:13.469 here as I bring this to a close. Where is your 00:34:13.469 --> 00:34:18.250 calling and how do you fulfill it? In almost 00:34:18.250 --> 00:34:21.409 every case, it's right here where you are right 00:34:21.409 --> 00:34:25.730 now. It's what's right before you. It's where 00:34:25.730 --> 00:34:28.869 God has assigned to you. Now, sometimes God will 00:34:28.869 --> 00:34:31.630 lead you in a different direction. It might be 00:34:31.630 --> 00:34:34.449 now or it also might be several years down the 00:34:34.449 --> 00:34:37.260 road. And that's okay. You don't need to figure 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:40.360 it out right now. God uses the journey to shape 00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:45.480 you in ways that you can't even imagine. So then 00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:47.860 we must ask, what does ordinary faithfulness 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:51.159 look like in your life right now? What does it 00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:56.360 look like? Through ordinary, or even one might 00:34:56.360 --> 00:35:00.360 say boring, faithfulness that establishes deep 00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:04.559 roots. It's a multi -generational vision. Something 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:07.480 that is long -lasting. faithfulness to God's 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:10.559 calling for you. It might seem so commonplace 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:12.760 to regularly work at your job or to care for 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:15.440 your household, to show up on time at church 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:20.300 week after week after week, to minister to those 00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:23.079 whom God has placed around you. And all of that 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:26.199 can seem kind of humdrum sometimes if you compare 00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:29.739 that with some exciting new venture or you read 00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:33.280 a story about this work that this... person did 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:36.340 is renowned person and how God worked in an incredible 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:40.900 way. And you think, what am I missing? No, the 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:45.019 majority of life is doing the ordinary duties 00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:48.480 before God and loving one another and putting 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:51.679 down deep roots and being faithful in every area 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:56.260 that God has called you to. Ordinary faithfulness 00:35:56.260 --> 00:36:00.480 that establishes deep roots. So in light of that, 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:03.980 here's my counsel. Before you act on your desire 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:07.280 to change your circumstances, be much in prayer 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:11.460 about it. Don't be reactionary, but rather proactive. 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:14.639 What is God teaching me through this difficulty, 00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:19.699 or this affliction, or even this unpleasantness? 00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:24.159 Am I seeking a change of circumstance because 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.280 I believe that it's the right thing for me to 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:29.789 do before God? Or is it because... I just want 00:36:29.789 --> 00:36:32.050 to get out of this circumstance because I don't 00:36:32.050 --> 00:36:37.070 like it and it's uncomfortable. My learning to 00:36:37.070 --> 00:36:39.570 serve Christ faithfully right where he has placed 00:36:39.570 --> 00:36:42.989 me. Before you make big decisions, seek wise 00:36:42.989 --> 00:36:46.369 counsel and take your time before making a major 00:36:46.369 --> 00:36:49.889 move. Husbands, seek the counsel of your wife 00:36:49.889 --> 00:36:53.329 and whenever possible, be in agreement together 00:36:53.329 --> 00:36:57.610 before making a major decision. especially one 00:36:57.610 --> 00:37:00.829 that will affect your family. Remember 1 Peter 00:37:00.829 --> 00:37:04.730 3 verse 7. Husbands, likewise, dwell with your 00:37:04.730 --> 00:37:07.989 wives with understanding, giving honor to the 00:37:07.989 --> 00:37:11.449 wife as to the weaker vessel and as being heirs 00:37:11.449 --> 00:37:13.789 together of the grace of life that your prayers 00:37:13.789 --> 00:37:17.269 may not be hindered. Remember the old adage, 00:37:17.369 --> 00:37:19.889 the grass is greener on the other side of the 00:37:19.889 --> 00:37:22.670 fence. And that simply means that something can 00:37:22.670 --> 00:37:25.590 look so advantageous. Especially because it would 00:37:25.590 --> 00:37:28.030 get me out of this uncomfortable situation that 00:37:28.030 --> 00:37:31.730 I'm in right now. But so often we are enamored 00:37:31.730 --> 00:37:35.090 with it and we fail to see the downsides or the 00:37:35.090 --> 00:37:38.750 other things that will happen. This principle 00:37:38.750 --> 00:37:41.989 is not a ban on all change. Paul here allows 00:37:41.989 --> 00:37:45.369 freedom to the slave if available. Later he permits 00:37:45.369 --> 00:37:48.670 remarriage for widows. But it's a guard against 00:37:48.670 --> 00:37:52.530 the notion that a change in one's marital or 00:37:52.530 --> 00:37:56.539 social or religious status is necessary for greater 00:37:56.539 --> 00:38:01.659 holiness and usefulness. God has you right here, 00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:07.699 right now. Trust in Him. Look to Him. And be 00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:12.860 satisfied and chase away the restlessness with 00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:17.000 contentment that God has you right where He wants 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:20.340 you right now. And if the Lord opens up other 00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:23.650 doors in the future, then you will look back 00:38:23.650 --> 00:38:27.150 and rejoice at what you have learned during this 00:38:27.150 --> 00:38:31.449 time. So let's pray. Our Father, we thank you.