“The Priciple of Contentment”

Good morning, turn in your bibles with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 7. We live in a time where it can be easy to think that a change in our circumstances is always the answer to life’s problems. However, we often forget that the problem that mankind forgets is that our biggest problem is within us and not around us. The heart of the problem is that our hearts are desperately wicked. Look around the world and we so easily see this. People think if they move to a different place or even out of West Texas then this will fix all of their problems. People think that if they switch partners in marriage they will now be more happy than they were before. People think that if they can’t just buy one more fill in the blank than it will make them more happy, and yet why is it that more people are discontent and unhappy then ever before??? Why is there more worry, anxiety, discontentment, and fear in our world?

Paul’s main point here is that after experiencing the call of God, or after being saved, each person should remain in the situation that he or she was in at the time of that call. In other words, you don’t have to go out and completely change your social status to serve God.

-Don’t go and get married if you are single.

-Don’t seek to now be single if you are married.

-Do not seek any change in your social status.

The main principle of this text is that believers should willingly accept the situation into which God has placed them and be content to serve God there. Our natural tendency is that we often rebel against God because we are not content. Often our eyes are fixed on other people and other things. We should not be preoccupied with changing our outward circumstances even though God may change those in His timing. Let’s begin in verse 17. I hope you will follow along with me.

1 Corinthians 7:17–24 ESV

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Let me share with you today 3 Principles about contentment.

1. Be content where God has assigned you.

1. Siéntete satisfecho en el lugar donde Dios te ha asignado.

1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

Over the past few weeks we have seen how Paul took time to address several big issues that came up in the church. Paul was dealing with sexual sin, marriage issues and even divorce. Paul now takes time to show us how God knows who we are, where we are, and how to use us in the place He has put us.

Clearly, we see here that God has a very specific purpose and plan for each and everyone of His children. As believers in Christ this should give us a great peace and comfort. No matter where we live or what skin color we are God can use us for His good purpose. As the saying goes, “we can bloom where we are planted.” Where the Lord has assigned us and where the Lord has called us is where we should serve and follow Him.

In Paul’s day there were several issues of discontentment that had become pretty obvious in the Corinthian church. Some believers wanted to change their marital status from single to married or from married to single. Some were slaves and wanted to be free. They had misinterpreted, and often abused, the truth of Christian freedom taking it to mean that they had freedom to do and live as they pleased, instead of freedom to live as God wanted them to live.

When God called you to salvation through His Son as we see here in verse 17, we know that He had a specific plan for us. It is interesting here that eight different times we see this word call or called in our English versions and 9 times in the Greek. Paul uses the word primarily of our call to salvation. This is the effectual call that saves the sinner. This call is a divine summons from God. The external call is simply that which any person hears when they are told or presented the gospel invitation to come to Christ. The internal call is God changing a person’s heart so as to believe on Christ for salvation. Romans tells us that while we are dead in our trespasses or sins Christ died for us. Therefore, we as sinners do not decide independently, or in our fallenness, that we will love God.

1 John 4:19 ESV

19 We love because he first loved us.

My point here is that when God called you and changed your life He calls us from all walks of life. God wants us to be Christian fathers and mothers. He wants us to be Christian husbands and wives. He wants us to be great Christian employees and even employers. He wants each and everyone of us to fulfill our role that He has assigned to us and for us to walk in that as we faithfully follow Him. Our service to God will look differently than it does for others for many reasons, but none of that should matter because we are to all live obedient lives for God. Wherever you are at today be content and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gives us some very practical advice in Romans chapter 12.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2. Be content by not letting your conditions consume and control you.

2. Siéntete satisfecho no permitiendo que tus circunstancias te consuman y te controlen.

1 Corinthians 7:18–22 ESV

18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.

As Paul begins verse 18 he explains to us his point by sharing several different illustrations. The first illustration that he explains to us has to do with circumcision and the second illustration has to do with social distinctions which was slavery. Notice the questions that Paul asks here.

-Was anyone already circumcised when he was called to Christ?

-Was anyone called to Christ while uncircumcised?

In verse 19 Paul takes time to answer why. Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. So, what does matter? What is the lesson that Paul is trying to help us get here? Keeping God’s commands is what matters the most. Are you obediently follow Jesus today? Or is there something that is causing you to follow other things? Being in Christ Jesus changes everything about our lives or at least it should. Outward ethnic and social distinctions no longer matter as they once did. It is not that they are unimportant, but they no longer have the priority or weight they once carried.

John Piper comments here, “what Paul was doing was showing that obedience to the commands of God is so much more than any cultural distinctives, that the mere changing of these distinctives should be of no importance whatever to the Christian. In other words, don’t make such a big deal out of whether your are circumcised or not, or whether you are white or black or red or Scottish. But instead make obedience a big deal. Make the whole aim of your life to be content in what God has given you and where He has placed you and serve Him.”

For a second time Paul now mentions again, “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.” The point here is that God has called you to this situation or condition. It is not an accident where you are at today. Paul takes time to apply this to slavery. When people enslave others this is a horrible and evil thing in whatever time or form it is practiced. In the Greco Roman world slavery was widespread and very common.

Thomas Schreiner comments here, “one could be born a slave, sell oneself into slavery to pay debts, be sold into slavery or become a slave by being captured in way. Many slaves lived miserably. Other slaves served as doctors, teachers, managers, musicians, artisans, cooks, and shopkeepers. In some instances slaves were better educated than their masters. Slaves however, in this time were under the control of their masters and had not independent existence. In verse 21 Paul again asks another question.

-Was anyone called to Christ while a slave?

The point here like before is that Paul wants us to see that we should not allow our condition to control or consume us. Christian, Jesus is now your all-consuming passion. He is to be your everything. Now of course Paul tells us here that if someone can become free, than by all means you should be free, but ultimately our freedom is found in Christ. In verse 22 Paul drives home this important truth by telling us that he who is called in the Lord as a bondservant is free. Paul’s point is that we are free from sin, but we are a slave to Christ in our spiritual status before God.

3. Remember that your true contentment is found in Christ.

3. Recuerda que tu verdadera satisfacción se encuentra en Cristo.

1 Corinthians 7:23–24 ESV

23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

It is interesting here that Paul actually quotes from 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 20 where he tells us that you were bought with a price. In chapter 6 Paul explains that because of this we can be set free from sexual immorality as we become the temple of the Holy Spirit. However, here in our text we see something even more helpful as Paul says that you were bought with a price we are set free from slavery to sin and earthly distinctions because we are now slaves and servants of Christ. This is why Paul says we are not to be slaves of people or men. Church, don’t be enslaved to the opinions of others because they don’t matter. Christ is Lord, and he says we belong to him. Because we love him we can serve others, but our identity, value, and worth are in Christ.

Now for the third time Paul tells us that whatever condition each was called, we are to remain with God. Our contentment cannot be found outside of Jesus. Since Christ has saved us and changed our lives than look to him for true joy and peace.

Conclusion: Are you a content person? Let me ask you this morning, whose opinion matters most to you? Yours? Others? Or God’s? Do you have a desire to live for God and follow His good commandments? After all, God is the one who made you. He is the one who saves us, and He is the one who has placed you exactly where you are. So, take time today to rest in His good and perfect plans. Listen to these helpful words from Paul.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Prayer: God we thank you today for not giving us what we deserve. We thank you for not giving us what we want because often our desires draw us away from being truly satisfied in you. Help us today to be content with what you have given us and not to be focused on what our flesh wants or even in what others around us have. Protect us today from coveting possession and people. Please keep our hearts from being anxious for what we don’t have and help all of us to be more thankful each and every day. God we pray today that you would fill our hearts with joy, satisfaction, and contentment in you. And help us today to be content in any and every situation like Paul was. We thank you today for the greatest gift ever given to us in that of your Son Jesus. Father because of Christ we know today that we are truly free to be content and to live for you.