“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.”

Paul began this chapter with a focus on whether or not one should marry. Indeed, most of the chapter is about that. But in the middle of this chapter (v. 17-24), he seems to use his words on marriage as an opportunity to teach a more general principle about one’s station and calling in life–and the acceptance of it.

Verse 17 serves as a summary of his thought. In essence, no man should begrudge his respective calling in life, but instead, embrace it as a gift and calling of the Lord. As Paul puts it, we each have an assignment from the Lord. A distinct calling. We are wise to embrace it as such and be on our guard against discontentment with our assignment or calling. In verses 17-24, Paul elaborates a bit on his thought here and, in essence, teaches that wherever one found himself when called by the Lord (in salvation) is probably where one should stay.

He uses the example of slavery. But we could also use the example of any particular line of work. Even though it is true that the Lord might call you out of your line of work, this is not normally the case. Normally, the Lord calls us to remain where we are and in the end, to simply live differently where we are to His glory. To fulfill our assignment or calling in such a way that He is exalted. It is usually wise to remain where we are, but to do so ‘with God’ (v. 24).

This is pretty simple truth, but it should also been pretty freeing truth. Oftentimes, those who seek hard after the Lord wonder if they should go into a more focused ministry or spend more time at the church. Sometimes one might even feel guilty about spending so much time at work and home and so little time at church. The circumstances vary, of course, but the point is that one should not feel guilty about fulfilling His respective assignment or calling in life. Discernment is needed, of course, (as we might be inclined to overwork), but in the end, if you are pursuing faithfulness to your respective station in life, you should be pursuing it with a clear conscience, understanding that you are simply trying to lead the life the Lord has called you to lead.

In the kingdom, there is no truly ‘secular’ work. All is done unto the Lord when it is done in faithfulness to one’s calling, in dependance upon Him, and with a view towards the manifestation of His rule and reign in the word. Such is the call to seek first the kingdom.