GOD CAN USE US WHERE WE ARE

Proclamation:

"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. ... Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him."  1 Corinthians 7:17 and 20 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul began this chapter to the believers in Corinth with a discussion on being married versus being single.  However, he also discussed being circumcised versus uncircumcised and being a slave versus being free.  His point was, with respect to God's call on their life, they should stay in the situation that they were in when God called them, and focus on what God has for them to do and not focus on their situation.

Application:

God can use us, wherever we are in life, regardless of our status, station, or situation.  What is important to God is our focus being on Him and our behavior, not our employment status, marital status, our health status, or economic status.  God has a purpose for each of us, and it is important that we bloom where He has planted us. (2 Corinthians 5:5 and Philippians 2:13)  God has blessed us to be in whatever situation we find ourselves in, and He will work it for our good. (Roman 8:28)  We need to appreciate wherever we are planted and count it all as joy. (James 1:2)  Whatever we do, we should do it to the best of our ability. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)  For whatever it is that we do, it should be done to the glory of God, because it is for Him that we are working. (1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23)