1 Corinthians 7:20-24 - On being a slave

7:20,21

Paul broadens out the application of the principle. “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called”. The circumstances that happened to us before we were saved were ordered by God. He did not just start acting in our lives the day we came to faith, He has been active long before that. “Were you a bondservant?” (ESV), NIV has “slave”. Bondservant is better as slave in this context does not mean the same as a slave from the 17th or 18th centuries who was essentially trafficked. It was not bed of roses, but it was not the same. This is shown by the last part of the verse, where Paul says that if a bondservant (slave) gets the opportunity to become free then they should take that opportunity. This also shows that Paul was not instituting a legalistic idea here, but a general principle, an attitude of heart.  If we are forever looking to change the circumstances of our lives as a solution to our problems we will most likely be disappointed. For often the source of the problem lies within ourselves. We are the ones who need to change. So, instead of always looking to change the circumstances, we should be looking for God to change us. However, this does not mean we should never change jobs, move house etc! It is a heart attitude matter.

7:22

Freedom does not lie within our worldly status, freedman or bondservant in Paul’s day. Freedom lies in our belonging to Christ. If we are bound in a situation in the world’s eyes, we can be free in it in Christ. Paul knew this, for he used periods of imprisonment to save jailers, to write letters that became part of Scripture. Conversely, if we are “free” in the world’s eyes we are slaves of Christ, we are beholden to Him. Our status in Christ is of far greater importance than our status in the world.

7:23,24

“You were bought at a price, do not become slaves of men”. Now this is interesting, for Paul has said this both to those who are slaves and those who are freedmen. So what is Paul saying? I think he is warning us against being slaves of the world’s opinions and structures, of what men think. So if you were a slave you might think that the most important thing in life is to become free. To put that more in our context, if we were in a pretty low status job, then we might think the number priority in life was to get a better job. Now, taking Paul’s earlier words (v21b), there is nothing wrong at all in seeking a better job, but our job does not define us. Conversely, if we have a good job we might think we have it made, but the same logic applies. Our good job does not define us. Our relationship with God, our trust in Him, our obedience to Him, these are the things that really count in life.