|
I think about a farmer who visited a shopping center for the
first time. He later said, "I don't know when I've seen so many things I could
do without.” It is hard to find something that is content with what they have and
where they are in life. I remember in the former Church I pastored a young man
testifying, “I used to live in Georgia and I now live in Tennessee. I like
Georgia, but like Paul, I have learned that whatsoever state I am in, therewith
to be content.”
A story in ancient times tells of a king who was suffering
from a certain malady and was advised by his wise men that he could be cured if
the shirt of a contented man were brought to him to wear. So the search began
for a contented man. After a long search they found a man that truly content.
But he had no shirt.
In the text (Vs.17-24) before us, Paul is still dealing with
the matter of marriage. When you read the passage it is almost like he switches
gears for a moment and suddenly begins to talk about something that has nothing
to do with marriage. The
passage primarily deals with learning to be content with one’s place in life.
Its relation to marriage is that Paul was emphasizing the permanence of the
marriage relationship.
He immediately picks up with the marriage theme in verse 25,
but between verse 16 and verse 25, interjects a truth that has the aim of
dealing with the discontentment among Corinthian believers. There were several
areas of discontentment prevalent in the Corinthian Church. Marital status was one such area. There were those that
wanted to change their marital status from single to married, from married to
single, or from being married to an unsaved spouse to a saved spouse.
As Paul
deals with “Marriage by the Book,” he deals with such discontentment, as well
as other areas of discontentment, by inserting the truth he presents in our
text. It is a wonderful passage to help us to
understand that God wants us to bloom where we are.
Let’s notice the passage.
First, we see:
1. THE ASSIGNMENT OF GOD'S WILL
When one begins to understand God’s ways, work, and will as
it pertains to every believer, one realizes that there are no accidents with
God, only appointments and assignments. I believe that who we are and where we
are is part of God’s work in our life. God has a will for every life and our
“lot” in life is allowed by God, arranged by, appointed by God, and assigned by
God.
Therefore, we need to:
A. Understand God's
Will
We read in
verse 17,
“But as God hath distributed
to every man, as the Lord hath called every one…”
The word “distributed” speaks of that which has been apportioned or
assigned. Paul declares that God has “assigned” certain things as they
pertain to our life. Paul speaks of God’s assignment
in life as a “call.” In fact, 7
times in our text Paul speaks of God’s assignment as a call or calling:
Vs. 17,
“as the Lord hath called
everyone.”
Vs.18,
“Is any man called.”
Vs.20,
“Let every man abide in
the same calling.”
Vs.21,
“Art thou called.”
Vs.22, “For he that is called.”
Vs.22,
“Likewise also he that is
called.”
Vs.24,
“Brethren, let every man
wherein he is called.”
Notice
carefully that Paul places great emphases on God’s assignment and call as
involving every believer:
Vs.17, “every man”
Vs.17, “every one”
Vs.20, “every man”
Vs.24, “every man”
God has a
will for every believer’s life. Every believer is included and none are
excluded. Therefore, it is important that each believer understand God’s will.
We read in
Ephesians 5:17, “Wherefore be ye not
unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
We not only need to understand God's will, but we also need
to:
B. Undertake God's
Will
Paul says in verse 17, “so let him walk.” We are not only to understand God’s will
but undertake that will. We are to walk in the will of God. Paul is simply
saying that we are to do God’s will. I think of Romans 12:2: “…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.”
Someone has written:
I’ll
go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Real
service is what I desire.
I’ll
say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
But
please don’t ask me to sing in the choir.
I’ll
say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I like to see things come to pass.
But
don’t ask me to teach boys or girls, dear Lord,
I’d
rather just stay in my class.
I’ll
do what you want me to do, dear Lord,
I
long for the Kingdom thrive.
I’ll
give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord,
But
please, don’t ask me to tithe.
I’ll
go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
I’ll
say what you want me to say.
I’m
busy just now with myself, dear Lord,
I’ll
help you some other day.
Sadly, that is often the attitude of many. Instead, we ought
to pray as our Lord did, “Not my will, but thine be done.” We should both
understand and undertake God’s assignment and call.
Furthermore, notice:
2. The Acceptance Of God's Will!
There were some in the Corinthian
Church that were discontented and dissatisfied with God’s assignment and call
for their life. Paul gives 2
examples of dissatisfaction. First, we see there was:
A. Racial
Dissatisfaction
Notice verse 18, “Is
any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any
called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.”
The first illustration Paul used had to do with the identity of a person
as a Jew or Gentile. The terms “circumcised” and “uncircumcised” were
commonly used to represent Jew and Gentile. The “circumcised” representing
the Jew and the “uncircumcised” representing the Gentile.
It would seem that some Jews that had been saved wanted to
appear as Gentiles and some Gentiles wanted to appear as Jewish. Paul simply says, “Gentiles that
become Christians are not to become as Jews, and Jews that become Christians are
not to become as Gentiles.
Notice verse 19,
“Circumcision
is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments
of God.”
Paul says that such a thing was unnecessary, for circumcision
was
not required for either salvation or blessings. It had no spiritual significance
for Christians. What was important was keeping God’s commandments. Therefore, Paul says in verse 20, “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” In short, Paul was saying, “If God made you a Jew, then be content that
you are a Jew. If God made you a Gentile, then be content that you are a
Gentile.”
Have you ever stopped and thought about why you were born in
America and not some other foreign country. Have you ever stopped and thought
about why you are the race your are. We read and hear about certain
countries in which people are starving and living in horrible conditions. Each
one of us could have just have easily been born in such a country as we were
born in America. We could have just as easy been born a cannibal in some far
away jungle as to be born in a civilized country as the United States.
I believe that who we are falls under God’s assignment for
us. Let me show you what I am talking about by directing your attention to a few
passages in the Bible. Notice Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the
nations.”
God told Jeremiah of how he had set him apart for a specific work. He had
been “sanctified” and “ordained”
by God to be a prophet. But notice when all this was assigned by God. It was
before Jeremiah was born. Among the claims God’s makes, is
that for one thing, He knew Jeremiah before he was ever conceived. We were in
the mind of God before we were ever in the belly of our mother.
Also among God’s claims was that
He was the one that “formed”
Jeremiah. The word “formed” speaks of the work of a potter as he moulds and
shapes the clay into the vessel he wants.
Finally, we see that God assigned our lot in life before we
were ever born. He “sanctified” us, set us apart, to what He desired for our
life before we were ever born. Now all this tells me that God
determined everything about my life. Everything about me, who I am, how I am,
race, personality, all were determined by God.
Also notice Psalm 139:13-16. We
read in verse 13, “For thou hast
possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.” “Thou” is highly emphatic.
The Psalmist was saying, “You Lord formed me. Not mother nature. I did not
just happen. You God were responsible for my formation.” The word “possessed”
means “to create, form, originate.” Behind each individual person is the
creating work of God.
The word “reins”
speaks of our inward parts. It literally means “kidney.” The term would
include all our vital organs. The Psalmist was saying that all our vital organs
originated with God. The word “covered”
means to “entwine” and speaks of knitting something together. The Psalmist
said, “In my mother’s womb, in my embryonic, fetal form, God weaved,
knitted, formed me as He wanted me to be.” As the Psalmist thinks of such
truth he declares in verse 14, “I
will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy
works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Then notice verse 15, “My
substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously
wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”
The word “substance”
speaks of our body. God formed both the inward and the outward. The words “curiously
wrought” speak of variegated colors, like what you would find in tapestry
or fine needlepoint. Like a tapestry of many colors, God fitted and formed us
just as He wanted.
The phrase “made
in secret” is an idiomatic phrase for a place of protection or
concealment. It is a description of the mother’s womb. The Psalmist was
declaring that in that protected place where I was concealed, God oversaw my
pre-birth days as He fashioned and formed me.
Notice verse 16, “Thine
eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members
were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of
them.”
The Psalmist spoke of our “unperfect substance.” The word “substance” is different from the one used in verse 15. It
literally means “embryo.” The Psalmist said, “My embryo was not hid from You. You
watched over me in embryonic form and fashioned and formed me as you desired. He says in the latter part of
verse 16, “What I am and who I am was fashioned by you even when I did not
exist.”
General Motor’s cars carry the emblem “Body by Fisher.” We
carry the trademark “Body by God.” What we are and who we are is more than
heredity. It is a work of God. More than our parents, God
determined if we would be tall or short, big boned or little boned, red-headed
or brown-headed and even bald-headed, blue eyed or brown eyed. God was as
responsible for our bodily features, as well as our personalities, bents, etc.,
as much as anyone.
All this even includes our race. A person is white because it
was God’s will. A person is black, brown, red, and yellow according to God’s
assignment. No race is better than another. We all are who we are and what we
are by God’s will. No one should wish they were something else or someone else.
You are who and what you by God’s plan, purpose, and assignment.
We also see there was:
B. Social
Discontentment
Notice verse 21,
“Art thou called
being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it
rather.”
The second illustration Paul gives concerns slaves. He speaks directly to
those who are saved, yet are slaves. He says to those who were in such positions, “care
not for it.” The phrase means “do not worry about it.” He adds that if they are able to be
free, take their freedom. But if they do not have the opportunity to be free,
they are free in the Lord.
In verse 22, in case someone who
was free was gloating in not being a slave, he reminds them that they are the
slaves of Christ. In either case, free or a slave, we
have been “bought with a price”
and we actually belong to God. The point Paul is making is that regardless of
one’s position in life, they can still serve God and live a Christian life. I
believe that not only who we are and what we are is assigned by God, but also
where we are.
I was in a Church and each night, sitting in a wheel chair on
the front row, was a 14 year old boy with MD. The pastor told me that he was a
healthy boy until he was 7 years old. He used to run with all the other boys and
girls around the church, but now he is confined to a wheelchair.
Now I must confess to you I don’t understand why one is
stricken with such a disease and others are not. I could not help but look at
him and ask, “Why him and not me.” It is hard to understand except we
know that God is behind every twist and turn of our life. Paul was saying to
those of a certain social class, your place in life may not be what you would
choose or want, but all of life is assigned by God.
We must learn to accept what God assigns in life. From a
human perspective, it would seem that God is unfair and unjust. At times it
would seem that God is cruel. Yet, from a heavenly perspective, we know that God
is a loving God Who doeth all things well.
If we approached our place in life as a trust from God, we
would take on different attitudes about our life. Regardless of where we are, we
should live for God and honor Him. We belong to Him; therefore He has the right
to assign whatever He chooses.
Lastly, notice:
3. The
Abiding In God's Will!
Twice Paul tells us to abide. The word “abide” simply means
“to stay or remain.” We are to remain, stay, and abide in His will on a daily
basis. Let me say in closing just a couple of things about abiding in God’s
will.
To abide, we must:
A. Stay Committed
To God
Notice verse 20, “Let
every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” We are to be committed to doing
God’s will and staying in His will. We are not to be a Jonah’s that ran from
God’s assignment, but stay in His will.
Also, to abide we must:
B. Stay Close To
God
Notice verse 24,
“Brethren,
let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”
We are to “abide with God.” We are to stay close to Him and live in
unbroken fellowship with God. We read in 1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear,
we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
Our life is in His hands from conception to the coffin. The
truth of the matter is, our life has been in His hands from eternity past. We
may not understand why God’s assignments are as they are, but He is God and His
will is always with purpose and plan.
I think of Fanny Crosby. She has
left us more than 8000 hymns such as, All the Way My Saviour Leads Me, Blessed Assurance,
I Am Thine, O Lord, Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross, Praise Him, Praise Him, Rescue the Perishing,
Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It, Tell Me the Story of Jesus, To God Be the Glory,
to name a few. Fanny Crosby was blind from six
weeks old due to a mistreatment by a doctor. Yet, she viewed her assignment in
life as part of God’s plan. Listen
to what Fanny Crosby said in her autobiography:
“Although it may have been a blunder
on the physician’s part, it was no mistake of God’s. I verily believe it was
His intention that I should live my days in physical darkness, so as to be
better prepared to sing His praises and incite others so to do. I could not have
written thousands of hymns, many of which, if you will pardon me for repeating
it, are sung all over the world, if I had been hindered by the distractions of
seeing all the interesting and beautiful objects that would have been presented
to my notice.”
In the words of our text, “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”
Bloom where you are!
|
