Are You Called Being a Servant 1 Corinthians 7:21

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “circumcision” and “uncircumcision” were “nothing”, and that “every man” should “abide in the same calling wherein he was called”. In chapter seven and verse twenty-one of First Corinthians, Paul asked the church members “are you called being a servant?” where we read:

Are you called being a servant? care not for it: but if you may be made free, use it rather.

The verse begins, “Are you called being a servant? care not for it:” Paul began with the words, “Are you called” which means “are the church members uttered in a loud voice, invited and given a name” “being a servant” which means “while in the state as a bondman or slave”? “Care not” or “do not be concerned” “for it” which means “about it”. Paul asked whether the church members were “invited and came to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord” while they were “servants” to others. If so, they were not to be “concerned” or worry about it.

The verse continues, “but if you may be made free, use it rather.” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “if you” or “whether the church members” “may be made free” which means “were able and capable of becoming manumitted, exempt, unrestrained and not bound by an obligation” “use” which means “act or employ” “it rather” or “by far, more willingly, sooner and to a greater degree”. Paul encouraged the church members who were “servants” if they could be “freed” to use it for their advantage.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we understand there are some people who are called to a relationship with Jesus while they are bound to “serve” others. Some people were “slaves” and “bondmen” when they came to know Jesus, and some of them were able to be “freed” from their “servitude”. If they were “freed”, they were to use their “freedom” in the kingdom of God. They would then be able to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with others who were “bound”. Perhaps we were in “bondage” to someone or something when we came to know Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, and now we have been set “free”. If so, let us be diligent to share with others the “freedom” and “peace” that may be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul tells the church members that husbands and wives, “he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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