1 Corinthians 7:20
When God Calls,
Don't Move

This verse is found in the first letter from Paul to the church in Corinth. The context of the verse in chapter 7 is Paul’s extensive teaching on marriage. Our verse today highlights one marriage principle, and it is applied to a few different situations.

Let’s first look at what the verse sais, and then how it applies.  The imperative is ‘let each one remain’. The word for remain is ‘meno’, which means to stay, wait, abide, endure, or remain. The concept is clear, we have to stay somewhere, not move away from it. So where should we stay?

We should stay in the calling in which we were called. What does that mean? The word for calling is ‘klesis’, which comes from ‘kaleo’. The word for called is also ‘kaleo’, and it means to call, to summon, or to invite. Jesus used this word in the parable about the lord who organized a feast and called or invited people to come to it. And it is often used to express the idea that God invites us into a relationship with Him, through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His Word.

The word is used multiple times in 1 Corinthians 7, and each time it refers to the state the person was in when he or she became a Christian. Some people were called while being circumcised, some while being uncircumcised (vs 18), some while being a slave, some while being free (vs 21), some while married, and some while being unmarried (vs 27). In each of these circumstances, Paul commands believers to not seek to change the situation after they became Christians. He commands this in verse 20, and repeats the command in verse 24.

1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

For Paul to repeat this imperative means that it’s a pretty important principle. Does this mean that we Christians are never allowed to seek to change our circumstances? What if God directs us into a new and different direction, is that at all possible? Of course, God does lead us and things in our life do change.

However, the emphasis in this part is on the time when you were called, when you responded to your calling and became serious about your faith. When that happens, you are a young believer, and you probably have a lot to learn in order to become a mature Christian. At your conversion, your values and your thoughts will not all change overnight. Sanctification (becoming increasingly Christlike) is a process. So if you would seek immediate radical changes (such as changing your employment or marriage situation), chances are that this change is still driven by your natural desires.

What God would like instead, is to teach you first to become content in whatever situation you are. So Paul tells us to stay put, don’t move, but just wait, grow and learn. Then, over time, if God does want you to move, it will be clear to you and to mature believers around you. It will be clear that the Holy Spirit is leading you, and not your natural fleshly desires.

Of course, if your situation is sinful, you have to change it immediately, but if not then stay put and wait until it is clear that it is really God who wants you to move. In the meantime, learn to be content in whatever state you are.

Godspeed!