Live Your Calling

Paul says each person should live the life the Lord has assigned and remain as called, and he presents this as his rule in all the churches. Circumcision and uncircumcision are not the decisive issue, because keeping God's commands is what counts, so no one should treat calling as a reason to reverse their outward condition.

R¹⁷egardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches. ¹⁸Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts. ²⁰Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

Paul applies the same principle to slavery, saying a slave should not be overly troubled by that condition, though freedom may be embraced if it becomes possible. The slave called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman, and the free person called in the Lord is Christ's slave, so each should remain with God in the situation in which they were called.

²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you— but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. ²²For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. ²³You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.