Stay Where God Has Placed You

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 Theme: God has a unique assignment for each of His children, that we should respect and accept. Key verses: “It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” (v. 1-2) “I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” (v. 7) “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.” (v. 8) “To the married I give this command…: A wife must not separate from her husband…And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (v. 10-11) “God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?” (v. 16) “Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.” (v. 18-19) “Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.” (v. 24) What God said to me: Dwayne, this is very clear and sensible to comprehend. Paul was saying that what matters most is to find where I have called you and gifted you for, then get there and stay there. In regard to marriage, some have the gift of celibacy and don’t need to get married. Let your first concern be to please me and live for me. Consider the gifts I have given you and how you can best use them for my glory. At the same time, realize that I can take you where you are and use and bless you. Don’t try to escape your present circumstances in an effort to go find my will out in what might appear to be “greener pastures.” My will for you is to trust me to work through your circumstances and abilities. I am a big God and can make something amazing out of your present situations and skills. What I said to God: Father God, forgive me when I become dissatisfied with my surroundings and circumstances. I confess that I am often not grateful for all you have blessed me with. Help me be content where you have planted me, and trust You to work through my circumstances — and perhaps in spite of my shortcomings.