1 Corinthians 7:17

1 Corinthians 7:17 says, But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.  I believe Paul was saying that when we are called, we have a certain status in life, and that after we are saved, we should be content to continue to live in whatever status we are in.  At no point were we promised that if we follow Christ all our physical circumstances would change.  If we are working, the job we have will still be the job we had before we accepted Christ.  I don't believe that Paul was saying that we should not attempt to better ourselves, but that we should not expect to suddenly have a better job or to be better off materially.  We are called to a spiritual relationship with God that will never change whatever our status in life.  We are to be content in the world because we are content in our spiritual relationship with God.  Verse eighteen adds, Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Paul was again stating that physical things have no bearing on our spiritual relationship with God.  Circumcision had been a physical sign of being a part of God's covenant people, but now Paul was stating it was no longer important.  We cannot place physical or material requirements on being a follower of Christ.  None of it matters, since we are God's people through faith in Christ. Those who were a part of God's chosen people through birth, those who were to represent Him in the world, were no better or worse than those that they considered heathen.  Both needed salvation through Christ alone and not through physical signs of belonging to God's family.  Verse nineteen continues, Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Paul stated this very clearly.  We can never claim that any physical trait allows us to be one of God's people.  Paul said only keeping God's commandments was important.  Though we cannot be saved through the Law, or commandments, we can show obedience to God and display our faith to the world by keeping His commandments.  They are to be written in our hearts and not on tablets of stone.  Verse twenty states, Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.  Paul said we are not to conform to outward characteristics to prove our relationship with God.  We are to abide by faith in Christ wherever we are and to witness for Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.  Following Christ may not change our physical standing in the world, but it should change our attitude toward how we relate to the world.  If a servant, or slave, were to attain their freedom, they were to use that freedom for the glory of Christ. Verse twenty-two continues, For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. I believe Paul was emphasizing again that our standing in the world is unimportant.  God frees us from the captivity of sin, and we are then to be His servants.  It is a willing choice.  God does not force anyone to accept Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three declares, Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.  Salvation is the free gift of God to mankind, but it does not come without a cost to God.  Since God purchased, or redeemed us through the blood of Christ, our ultimate loyalty is to Him.  Though we are to serve wherever we are, and we are to serve to the glory of God whatever our station in life, we are God's people, and He is the ultimate authority in our lives.  Verse twenty-four adds, Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.  As followers of Christ, Paul says that we are simply to abide in God, no matter what our earthly situation may be.  Since we are spiritually God's forever, our status in the eyes of the world is unimportant.  We are simply to live for Christ.