1 Corinthians 7:21–24

A slave's condition in those days was no doubt distressing. Picture a master who did not know God, sunk in the worst moral corruption, with Christian slaves, men or women. They could hardly escape the sight and sound of the most defiling talk. They always had to face what stood completely opposed to the purity of new life in Christ. You can understand how natural it would be for a slave's heart to long for rescue from such a life. But setting the heart on that kind of rescue is the very thing the apostle rebukes here.

"Let it not be a care to you": he must not treat the Lord as if He did not look on the one He loved, or share his sorrow and condition. Let him believe that it was He who ordered it all. It is His to arrange, ours to obey. Is it for a soldier on the battlefield to choose what he will do?

The Christian slave is not to mind his chains, nor long for a natural freedom that he might be tempted to misuse... The believing slave is to wear his chains as ornaments of grace rather than as badges of shame.

Many in ancient and in modern times read this last verse (21) quite differently. They take it to mean: even if you can be free, use the bondage instead. Prefer to be a slave rather than a free man. But this seems extreme. It also gives the human circumstances too much weight, as if slavery suited Christian living better than freedom.

The Christian slave is not to mind his bonds, nor pine for a natural liberty which he might be tempted to abuse. In fact, even if freedom were within his reach, he would do better to remain where God first found and blessed him... The believing slave, therefore, is to wear his bonds rather as ornaments of grace than as badges of humiliation.

The believer who was a slave when God called him is clearly free to accept his release. But if no chance of freedom comes, he is not to make his condition a matter of concern or anxiety.

The apostle urges the truth of that liberty in Christ which the Christian world has almost forgotten: if I am Christ's servant, I am already set free. Match the release he has been given, if you can. Twenty million would buy no such freedom. At the same time, if my master allows me liberty, let me use it rather.

The Lord's authority breaks the slave's chains for his faith; the grace of Christ makes the free man a slave for his heart.

Christianity takes people in the social position it finds them in, and shows how they may live Christ in that place. Its work is not to remodel society, but to teach the believer to display Christ. He was to be subject to the governing authorities. Since those authorities allowed slavery, he was to obey the laws here as in other matters. He was to seek freedom by lawful means if he could, and if not, to be content with his lot.

So while we are told to stay in our calling, whether as slaves or free men, it is to be "with God". This shows that, though it may be right to remain a slave, it would not be right to stay in some dishonest trade where you could not be "with God".

Think of a pagan master sunk in the worst moral filth, with Christian slaves in his house, men or women. They could hardly avoid the sight and sound of the most defiling talk. Day after day they faced what could never fit the purity of new life in Christ. We can understand how natural it was for a slave to long for rescue from such a life. But setting the heart on that kind of rescue is the very thing the apostle corrects here.

The apostle explains, "For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord." That is the right force: "freedman," not "freeman." The word means a man let out of slavery, not a man born free. It is the exact term here, and it stands out all the more because "freeman" or "free-born" comes next. Christ alone puts every person in his place and true light. Freedom handed out by men cannot do this, or even come close.

The apostle presses the freedom we have in Christ, which the Christian world has all but forgotten. If I am Christ's servant, I am set free already. Match, if you can, the release he already has. Twenty millions will buy no such freedom. At the same time, if my master offers me freedom, I should take it.

But we have to see how the apostle turns to the other side. "Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ." He now changes the phrase. He does not say the man is the Lord's bondman, but "Christ's." He might be born free, or an owner of slaves. Whatever he is, if he is a Christian, he is Christ's bondman. He is bound forever to Him who shed His blood for him. The price paid is what the apostle presses now, to make the free man feel that he is Christ's bondman. It appeals to his sense of grace, and not only to authority.

To be a slave of Christ is to be a free man. Christ has set him free from the slavery of Satan and sin, and from the slavery of his own will, which is the most real slavery in the most terrible sense of the word. The slavery of Christ, then, is the truest liberty. The more we live in the sense of what it means to serve such a Master, the more we will enjoy and stand firm in the freedom Christ has given us.

In any case let the Christian bondman remember that he is the Lord's freeman, and the freeman that he is Christ's bondman. Both have been bought with a price. The One who bought us with the price of His precious blood has the first claim on us. So we are told to stay in our calling, whether as bondmen or freemen, but to stay there "with God". This shows that, though it may be right to remain a slave, it would not be right to carry on in some dishonest trade where a man could not be "with God".

"You were bought with a price." Whether it be the free man or the slave, all were bought. The saints are the purchase of Christ's blood: so indeed is all the world; but believers alone acknowledge it, and they are called to act on it. "Do not become bondservants of men" — an appeal that binds the free as much as the slave. Serving with one aim alone secures true service, and that is perfect liberty. Strange to say, none are so likely to slip into human bondage as those who profess the Lord's name.

What is it that sets the captive free? Is it purchase? So far from it, purchase, instead of giving me my liberty, rather makes me a bondman. I am His to serve, now and evermore, who bought me with a price — His own blood. But people do not serve Christ when it is only a question of being bought. One more blessing is needed to make the claim of purchase felt: redemption.

His master had bought him, and therefore he was the property of his master. This, dear reader, is exactly our relationship to Christ. He has redeemed and bought us at the highest price He could pay — His own precious blood. It is a hard word to the ears of men, and rightly so, if applied to earthly relationships. But as to our relationship to Christ, there is no sweeter word to a Christian. If Christ had only hired me, I should belong to Him only for a time, but He has bought me, and so I am His own for ever.

The believing slave is Christ's freedman; the free man who is called is the purchased slave of his Redeemer... Redemption sets us free from man, but sets us apart for God.

Here it is a guard against pandering to others, whether for ease or honour, or to avoid pain or reproach. It was a great snare to the Corinthians — not to slaves only, but as much, or more, to the free. There is no thought here of weakening the Christian slave in serving his earthly master. Grace would strengthen him to serve with twice the zeal and honour, for he was now the Lord's freedman. How low it would be for a man born free, now bound to Christ as His slave by the deepest and most lasting of ties, to become man's slave! He does that whenever he compromises his Master, who bought him with His blood.

If one is called to be the Lord's servant, how then can he hire himself out to be the servant of a denomination or a congregation and do what man tells him to do? When a man is hired, he becomes a servant to those who hire him and must please them... He bought us with the price of His precious blood, and so we are told, "do not become bondservants of men." We are to serve people in love, but Christ is our Master.

While we are told to remain in our calling, either as slaves or free men, it is to be "with God". This surely shows that, though it may be right to remain a slave, it would not be right to continue in some dishonest trade in which it would be impossible to be "with God".

The days of the apostles were confused. There was conflict with Judaism, there were teachers pressing Jewish practice, and there was household slavery. Many felt a strong pull to free themselves from both. The temptation is still here today, though it takes another form. Children have sometimes thought they were right to leave home. Others found their daily work tiresome and changed jobs, thinking it would give them more freedom for the Lord's service. Others moved to new places, and even to other countries, for the same reason.

As to jobs and positions in this world, the general rule was that everyone should stay in the state he was in when God called him. But it must be "with God" — doing nothing that would not be to His glory. If the state was in itself of a nature contrary to His will, it was sin; clearly he could not remain in it with God. But the general rule was to remain and glorify God in it.

People say, "Doesn't the apostle in 1 Corinthians 7 tell us to stay in the calling we were called in?" Yes — but with this strong qualifying clause, "abide with God." That makes a great difference. Suppose a hangman is converted. Could he stay in his job? Someone will say this is an extreme case. Granted, but it is a case in point, because it exposes the false reasoning drawn from 1 Corinthians 7. It proves there are callings in which one could not possibly "abide with God."

"For the bondman that was called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman." The right word here is "freedman," not "freeman." It means a man who was set free, not a man born free... "Likewise he that was called being free is Christ's bondman." Christ alone puts everyone in his true place and true light. Freedom given by human hands cannot do that, or even come near it. The Lord's authority breaks the chains of the slave for his faith. The grace of Christ makes the free man a slave for his heart.

Some minds have read an extreme view into the phrase: that the Christian had better remain a slave even if he could be free. It says no such thing. "Let it not be a care to you": he must not treat the Lord as though He did not look on the one He loved, or share his sorrow and his condition. Let him believe that it was He who arranged everything.

The words of verse 24 are very strong — "there let him remain with God." For both the Father and the Son make their home with the willing and obedient disciple... No chain holds us to our post, but the counsel is to stay there. And anyone who weighs how God called him will not brush that counsel aside.

As long as we can go on in our calling with God, it would not be according to His mind to seek a change. To go on with God means to keep a good conscience before Him in our daily duties... Find out why a calling feels tiresome, and why you want a different one. Then you will see at once whether you are going against the spirit of these instructions.

The ordinary rule of Scripture is that in the calling in which a man is called he should there remain with God. The blessed Lord was a carpenter until He was called to His fuller service. Paul was a tent-maker, and at times supplied his own needs... Christianity does not change the order of the world, even where sin has given rise to it. I could not make a business of selling gin.