1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Paul is making a point in this section to remain in the state in which God called you.

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.

(v17, NIV)

Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

(v24, NIV)

There are a number of different states in which Paul is addressing. One set of states is circumcision and uncircumcision. Some Jews may have been still so attached to the Law that they believed circumcision was necessary for salvation. This may have also caused some cultural barriers between the Jewish converts and the Gentile converts, causing some of the Gentile converts to want to get circumcised. The opposite may have been true. Some of the Jewish converts may desire to become uncircumcised because circumcision was not necessary for salvation. Clearly it's not insanely important whether you are circumcised or not. Paul tells them to remain in whatever state they were called in.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.

(v19, NIV)

It's not the state of circumcision, but keeping God's commands that counts. There are also other parts in other letters from Paul that he addresses circumcision like the end of Romans chapter 2.

Another set of states Paul addresses is being a slave or free. In this case Paul makes an exception.

Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

(v21, NIV)

If you can, you should gain your freedom. I guess with regards to the state of being a slave, it's okay to attain freedom if you can.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

(v22, NIV)

It's interesting how Paul puts it in this verse. A slave is free in the Lord, but a freedman is a slave in Christ (v22). I guess this goes to show that this state doesn't really matter.

What's interesting is how it says "called" in verse 17, 20 and 24. There's even the word "assigned" in verse 17. These verses are all referring to your place or situation. In these places or situations, we are called to them by God. Our first and foremost goal shouldn't be a state of circumcision or uncircumcision. Our state is with God. These states we are in whether it be slave or free, whether it is circumcised or uncircumcised are our called situation. I guess it's hard to relate to those, but there are states which you can relate to. I mean, we're all either slave or free and either circumcised or uncircumcised, but it was a bigger issue back then. However, we have other states like your job or being a student. Chapter 7 is about marriage for the most part, so I guess married and unmarried is another set of states you can relate to.

Anyway, you should be content with your current state. But this doesn't keep you from desiring to become free if you are a slave. If God calls you to another state then that's fine. Seek God and his will for you. I like how ESV puts the last verse:

So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, let him remain with God.

(v24, ESV)