If you take your Bibles and turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 7 this morning, 1 Corinthians 7. Last week we looked at the subject of the boardwalk. And sometimes on the trails of life, the ground is washed out. And the word of God provides for us a stable footing, a sure ground in which to stand. But we also talked about the fact that there will be times when there is no boardwalk. and we're going to have to trust God, seek his will, where his word is sometimes silent. This morning we continue in 1 Corinthians chapter seven, we're going to find that there will be times when the path ahead is clear. You know where you're going and you know how to get there, but there's also going to be days when you're going to need some direction, because there's no path that can be found. Beginning at verse 17, we'll look for a moment here at this passage, verses 17 through 40 this morning. It says, but as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. God does guide his church and he does guide his people. God has not left you without help. He hasn't left you without hope. So Paul, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is going to offer some enlightened advice, an answer to the Corinthian church's questions. He had already differentiated at times. Sometimes he was speaking, sometimes God was speaking. You say, well, it's the Bible, so what's the difference? You're right. It's all under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. But look with me what it says in verse six of 1 Corinthians 7. He said, I would that all men were even as I myself, but every man, excuse me, that's verse seven. I speak, verse six, but I speak this by permission and not by commandment. Paul was giving sanctified counsel. Look what he says in verse 10. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord. And so he's giving instructions, he's saying, okay, this is God speaking, this isn't just Paul's good advice. And then he says in verse 12, but to the rest speak I, not the Lord. How interesting, right? So we have this mixture. There's places where the Bible has clearly spoken, and there's places where a spirit-filled man gives godly counsel to a curious church. Remember the context of the church at Corinth. It was a wicked city. And these people have been saved by God's grace out of this wickedness. But how will Paul lead them in a path where the Bible isn't clear? I think there's two things that we'll see this morning that he sought to show them. One was he gives them Bible principles. There are times when the Bible may not address your specific question, but it might give you principles or truths consistent with the character of God, consistent with the totality of the Bible. And those truths can be used to navigate, almost like you would say, like a compass in your hand. It gives you the direction of where to go. But also we're gonna find that Paul was directed, he gave direction through his passion. And his passion was God's passions. And he uses these principles and passions to give some direction to the Corinthian church for what seems to be an uncharted direction before them. here at verse 18. Let's read and make some comments along the way. I know this is a lot of verses so please be patient. Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised, as any called in uncircumcision. Let him not be circumcised. So the next question that the church was asking him, what happens if there are those who were Jews by birth who become Christians, and then there are those who are Gentiles, and the Gentiles didn't take this sign, this covenant sign? What should be done? And Paul gives the answer. He says, In verse 19, circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandment of God. That commandment seems to be being controlled by the Holy Spirit. That's what it tells us in Romans chapter two, verses 25 to 29. He says in verse 20, let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. So they had a question about this sign. But they also had a question then about their station. Verse 21, art thou called being a servant or a slave, someone who was actually a slave. There were many slaves at this time throughout the Roman Empire. The city of Corinth, maybe the majority of the church members were actually slaves. Arthur called being a servant, care not for it. But if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. So if you have the opportunity to be free, go for it. That's not a bad idea. Paul didn't seem to favor slavery. The passage we read a few moments ago, he was making an appeal to Philemon. Here's this slave who ran away, and he got saved. And he says, I'm encouraging, I'd sure like to see him set free so he could serve the Lord with his life, but if not, take him back into your house. But just know, he's a blessing to me, and he's gonna be a blessing to you. He says in verse 22, for he that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lord's free man. Likewise, also, he that is called being free is Christ's servant. So even if a person was saved and they were not a slave, we are in a sense all slaves to Jesus Christ. We're all servants of Jesus Christ. Verse 23, ye are bought with a price. Be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man wherein he is called therein abide with God, verse 25. Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. So unmarried daughters, and he says, they asked a question, what about them? What should we do? And he says, I don't have any direct command with what you have to do, but I'm gonna give my advice, verse 26. I suppose, therefore, That this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. And he's, because of the difficult days, because of soon coming persecution, or perhaps they were in persecution, he was encouraging singles to stay single. That was his advice, but he wasn't saying God commanded it. He goes on to say, In verse 27, art thou bound unto a wife, seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife, seek not a wife. But, and if thou marry, that thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless, such have trouble in the flesh. I, but I spare you. And he's not saying, Marriage is a pain. He's saying during difficult times of persecution it might be easier to be single than to be married. If a wife was taken from a husband, how would that affect him? And if you're single, you could just take off at a moment's notice. But if you have family and family responsibilities, it might be a little bit more challenging. So again, he's giving advice in light of this crisis. Verse 29. This I say, brethren, that the time is short. It remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none. He's not encouraging separation here. He's saying it's a mindset. So even the married people should be in the mindset of, you know what? The time is sure. I mean, persecution's coming, but Jesus is coming. And to live your life thinking that way. He continues, verse 30. And they that weep as though they wept not, and they that rejoice as though they rejoice not, and they that buy as though they possess not. So hold lightly to the things of this world, don't be overcome by your experiences. Verse 31, and they that use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away. We have to buy things to live, we have to survive in this world, but he says don't let the world own you is the idea. Verse 32, But I would that she would without carefulness, that you, without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord. Now how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world. How he may please his wife. And he's just talking about There's more to carry. There's more responsibilities. You might be distracted from serving the Lord because you have a God-given home to take care of. Now, Paul lifts up marriage in Ephesians chapter five, so don't get the idea that he's saying it's not good to be married. But he is also lifting up here, he's extolling the virtues of singleness, that God does honor and bless it. Pick up at verse 33 with me. There is a difference also between the wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy. Both in body and in spirit, but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. He's not saying that married women live ungodly lives. He's saying that their focus is on caring for the needs of their husband. Verse 35, in this I speak for your own profit. This idea of singleness. He's, I'm looking out for you. He says, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but that for which is comely. and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction. Verse 36, but if any man think that he behaveth uncomely towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need require, let him do what he will. He sinneth not, let them marry. And this could be speaking of a man who was perhaps engaged but not yet married, or it could be talking about a father. Roman and Greek cultures had, The idea that the parents chose the children's spouses. And if they were minors, they didn't have a say in it. But if they were older, later on they could actually refuse it. But the children would have to consent to it. But these prearranged marriages. So he's saying if somebody has a daughter and she's not yet married and this father's Thinking, well, this is something I gave to the Lord. I want her to live her life serving the Lord. He says, but if there comes a time when she is married, it's not sinful. Verse 37, nevertheless. He that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So if she doesn't marry, Paul's saying in light of this current crisis, in light of the persecution, hey, that's gonna be okay, it's gonna be all right. That's not sin either, verse 38. So then he that giveth her in marriage, doeth well, but he that giveth her not in marriage, doeth better. The wife is bound, verse 39, by the law, as long as her husband liveth. But if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord. Speaking here of widows, verse 40. But she is happier, or the idea is of a spiritual blessing. if she abide after my judgment, if she stayed single. And I think also that I have the Spirit of God. So there's some many topics he addresses in this section of Scripture, right? He's gonna show us though that God guides Christians and he enables obedience. As I mentioned last week, Scripture is sufficient. We have in God's word everything we need for life and godliness. But where scripture is silent, the Holy Spirit guides God's people to make wise choices in our present circumstances. He gives us the Bible, it's clearly written, the precept, but he also gives us Bible principles. He gives godly counsel from the local church and he offers to us careful and prayerful consideration and it's wise for us to make decisions in light of God's will and God's word. So in regard to singleness in marriage, we talked last week about the fact that Paul's counsel included finding your place. What are you? Are you presently single? Are you presently married? Are you supposed to be married? Are you supposed to remain single? That's wise for you to seek God's mind in finding your place. But you should also make sure that you're fulfilling your God-given purpose. I am doing what God has called me to do. Fulfill it. and then to be faithful to your path. This is how God has led you. Continue on. Trust the Lord and seek him in this. But as we're going to find in seasons of stress, when the pressure is high, we're tempted to act on impulses rather than principles. The categories that Paul was addressing here were the topics of singleness, the sign of circumcision, slavery, and marriage situations. So as we think about this, last week we looked at the context of Corinth. It was no moral city. And the temptations were there for singles to be involved in fornication. The temptation was there for Marys to commit adultery. And Paul is ensuring, he wants to give God's mind on how to maintain your station before the Lord. But when the pressure's high, when the stress is deep, sometimes we're not thinking. Sometimes it's not like the prescription written out on a piece of paper of, okay, this is what I need to do. Sometimes we're acting on our clutch responses. You know, what do I need to do right now? And we don't always make wise choices that way. And so, in this wicked city, this sensual city, it was important that this church learn to be different. Such were some of you. Many of them had lived wicked lives before, but God had saved them by His grace. And now God takes these people who have been saved from wicked lifestyles and He wants to make them useful in His service. And we find Also, the context of Paul. In order to understand the second part of 1 Corinthians 7, you need to think with me about who is writing this letter. It was the Apostle Paul. He was a persecutor who God saved, on his way to persecute. And he became a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That was his calling. That was his mission. That was what he was appointed to by God. And so as he writes this letter, understand who he is. In 1 Corinthians chapter two, he explained how he came to the church of Corinth. This was a community of bravado, a place of showmanship. But he didn't come as a showman. He didn't come as a trickster. He didn't come with a great advertising campaign. The Bible tells us, he said, in verse two of 1 Corinthians 2, I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. Verse four, in my speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. The Apostle Paul was committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was also committed to the gospel going forward with God's power. not Paul's personality. Now we all have a personality, and God would use Paul's personality. But he said, I want God to do a work here that's not based upon something that's gonna come and go, that's something that's transient. I want it to stay, I want his power to work based upon God's unchanging character. I want his Holy Spirit to do the unmistakable work of saving souls. And so Paul essentially was saying, I'm trying to get out of the way so God's word can do its work. And so as we come to 1 Corinthians chapter seven, understand that's who we're talking about, somebody who highly valued the Word of God, who highly valued the leading of the Spirit of God, who highly valued the Spirit's power to do the work. And so as he answers questions, as he gives advice, he's gonna share advice with the church at Corinth in light of his calling, in light of his mission, in light of his purpose on earth. And Paul's heartbeat, it seems, boy, was just beating in rhythm with that of Jesus Christ. He was concerned for the souls of men. He was concerned for the church at Corinth because if they got distracted, if they became a divisive church, if they disappeared, The gospel message would be hindered in that region of the world. This was an important city that God wanted to use. And so Paul's emphasis is on a gospel thrust. And as he answers these questions, he's thinking about the impending persecution, he's thinking about the coming back of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he's thinking about why he is here, to get the gospel to the lost. You say, well that was great for him, he was an apostle, he was a preacher. The Apostle Paul is bringing us into his heart. And he said, this is what God wants for all of his children. This is what he wants for all of his church. And so he answers questions. And this second half of 1 Corinthians 7, that's the mindset he has, okay? He's thinking about the gospel and how it can be effective in a difficult world. Number one this morning, I want you to see Christ in your calling. We see that phrase repeated a number of times in verses 17 through 24. But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called everyone, so let him walk and so ordain in all the churches. Verse 18, is any man called? And he says, is any called? We see that repeated over again. He's talking about their station, their circumstance, where they are. He's not talking about a special call to a different place. He's actually encouraging to stay where they are. And the first station he gives them is this idea of circumcision. If this is who you are, there were those, we are told, historians have told us, that who had been circumcised and sought to be uncircumcised. And they did that through surgery. Some were seeking that out. Now, we have people today who believe that they will become a better Christian, a stronger Christian, if they become more Jewish. The Apostle Paul puts an end to that thinking here. Now, you can learn a lot from culture. You can learn a lot from studying the Old Testament, certainly, and Jewish tradition. There's things that are valuable you can learn so much from. But you can also learn a lot about portions of the Bible by living in the cave for a month, okay? God has not called you to become Jewish if you're not Jewish. We are one in Jesus Christ, we're told in Ephesians chapter two. The wall of partition is broken down and we are one together in Christ. If you are Jewish, don't try to become un-Jewish. Be a Jew who believes in the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, the Christ. So if you are not, he says, circumcised, you don't need to pursue that. If you are circumcised, don't try to surgically have that reversed. What does he say? Verse 19, circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. It couldn't be any clearer. So the most important part is not necessarily your background or tradition or even your religious practices. It's your personal relationship with Christ. And when he says, in keeping of the commandment of God in verse 19, that this is what's important, Romans chapter two, as I mentioned earlier, tells us what that means, to be controlled by the Spirit of God. That's our commandment as God's children. So see Christ in your calling. The second thing he addresses is, we might say vocation. The majority of our culture is not slaves, but it was in Corinth. And there were those who were slaves. When they got saved, I mean, they were still slaves. It wasn't like, okay, they went to a preaching service. And as they were getting up from the altar after trusting Christ, you know, they're writing their resignation letter. Okay, I guess I can't work in there anymore. There may be a place, there may be a time when a person gets saved, and the kind of thing that they had done before, as a Christian, they shouldn't do anymore. But he's saying here to those who are serving as slaves, your being a Christian isn't going to hinder you from doing what you have been appointed. Arthur called being a servant care, not for it. Don't squabble about that. He says, but if thou mayest be free, use it rather. Paul wasn't endorsing it. He wasn't saying it's the best way. It was a part of their culture. And he says, you know, if you have the opportunity to be free from your slavery, go for it. That'd be a blessing. That'd be good to get out of that. But if not, what is the attitude we're to have? Verse 22, and he that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lord's. Your freedom comes in Jesus Christ. So even though you still are serving a master, You're ultimately serving Jesus. And so your vocation has become sanctified, right? It's set apart for God and for his glory. And so, yes, you continue your daily tasks as a servant, but you do it for Jesus. And God will bless it. He says, likewise, he that is called being free is Christ's servant. And so even those who were not slaves, he says, do you know who we all are? We're all servants of Jesus Christ. We're bond slaves to Jesus Christ. So we're to see Christ in our calling, your present circumstances, and there's some principles there that we can draw. When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, there's no need for you to cut off every relationship, right? You are who you are. You live where you live, and you're related to who you're related to. And along the way, sometimes there are maybe some friendships that need to change, and maybe there are some choices that need to be adjusted. But he said, when you come to faith in Jesus Christ, you bring Christ into that context. Now remember, these were people who were living their lives seeking to live a Christian life in a carnal community. There'd been factions and splinters in the church. There'd been pride. There was a group of people who were accusing Paul of not being an apostle. He would address that in 2 Corinthians. This church was really a mess, right? There were a lot of problems going on. But on top of that, on top of their own internal problems, there was this external pressure. We talked last week about taking a hike and walking on a boardwalk of God's word. And that sometimes when the boardwalk isn't there, there are branches that we can reach for, that we can grasp. And these are principles from God's word. They're good godly advice from saved people, spirit indwelt, spirit filled people that can help us to make choices where the Bible isn't always clear. That's a Bible principle that we have. And we reach for these principles and we're seeking God's mind. but it's not always a sunny day on the trail. Sometimes it's storming, and you're seeking to make decisions, and it's not easy to make clear-headed decisions because there's rain in your eyes, and sometimes there's tears in your eyes, and you've suffered hardship, and you're going through difficulty, and you're trying to do what God wants you to do, but life is hard. And you've been kicked, and you're down. And not only is it storming, maybe it's dark. And not only can you not see the trail, you can hardly see the branches. And those are the times for you to keep in mind, you are not alone. You say, well yeah, I'm on this path and there's this good advice and good counsel and I'm reaching and I'm trying to know where to step. Don't forget who's ahead of you. Hebrews 13 reminds us in verse five, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Jesus Christ is with you. and you're not alone in the path. And the Apostle Paul as he was talking to this church of Corinth, he's letting them know bring Christ into your context. Where you are. Don't leave him out. And so as he addresses their questions. Now maybe you're not wrestling through whether to remain single or be married. Maybe you're not wrestling with your current marriage situation. But Paul is gonna use these principles to help guide the church, and he guides them not just with Bible principles, but also with the passion of God that he sees. The passion that God has for what he wants to do in the world. So, the view of verse 25, we see singleness in a crisis. And he says, what do we do about these young ladies who are unmarried? He says you know what the Bible doesn't say either way. We have tremendous examples in the Bible and throughout Christian history and in our church today of those who God has used in singleness. And sometimes to a marked degree more than those who are married in the church. And I know sometimes It's the habit of this preacher and others. Sometimes we speak as though everybody is in a full nuclear family. They've got eight kids who are 10 and under. I know, it's not where we are. It's not where everyone in the church is. I understand that. And sometimes we feel left out. Well, this is a passage of scripture that doesn't leave anybody out. And here he says, what are you gonna do about this? He goes, I'm gonna give my advice. Here's what it is. His sanctified counsel. He said, I suppose, verse 26, that it's good for the present distress. Be like me here. Remain as you are. because of the impending persecution. Others have wrestled with things like this through the years. If you've ever read the love story of Jim Elliot and Elizabeth Elliot, as a young man who wanted to serve God with his life, Jim really wrestled through, should I remain single? Would I be more useful to God as a single man, or would it be wrong of me to bring a wife into a dangerous place with the gospel? Another great missionary hero of mine is Hudson Taylor. Hudson Taylor took passages like this to heart, and he said, you know what? There are a lot of single young ladies who could be tremendous helps to me on the mission field. And so he recruited them. He invested in them, and he sent them out with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he says, you know what? Here are some ladies who can devote everything. He found them much more reliable than young men. They weren't as distracted. They kept their nose to the grindstone. They fulfilled the task, and God greatly used them. I've met some of those ladies who, through those generations, were used as singles for God's glory. One lady a number of years ago I met was named Opal Anderson, and because of calls like this, she had gone to the mission field. She had gone as a single missionary woman, and I've told you this story maybe before, but one time she was standing, the Japanese had invaded China, during the Boxer Rebellion, and she was working at an orphanage, and a Japanese samurai came to her door with a sword extended, and he motioned for her to move, and she refused. She just stood there and prayed, and this samurai put his sword right to her neck. She kept praying, and all of a sudden, this samurai drops his sword and runs away in fear. She goes, I have no idea what he saw, but God was protecting me. God has used many a single, to a great degree, because they could be single-minded and focus on ministry. Not only those who are in vocational ministry, but whatever they're doing, their attention, their energies can be more focused on serving the Lord. There are many benefits, and our church has been blessed through the years by many who, in their singleness, said, you know what, I'll come early and open up the church, or I'll stay late and close it. I don't have a family at home that I'm worried about. I can come in during the week, or I can come in some night. Nobody's missing out on me not being there, it's just me at home, and there's more that I can do for God, and I wanna use my life to serve the Lord here through the ministry of the local church, hallelujah. The Apostle Paul says in the midst of this dangerous season, it's not a bad idea for some people to follow the Lord in being single so they can more effectively serve the Lord. Again, he's not commanding it. He's not saying it's the only way, but he's not discouraging it either. He says, verse 27, art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. And so some people, just as the Corinthian mind was, some might be saying, well, okay, I wanna serve the Lord, but I'm married, so I'm gonna divorce my wife so I can serve the Lord better. Well, he says, don't do that. Don't think that way. Verse 28, and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless, such shall have trouble or thorn in the flesh, as I mentioned. And so there may be those who said, you know what? I thought God wanted me to be single. And I've been single maybe for many years. But you know what? The Lord changed my heart in that. The Lord brought someone into my life. Is it wrong for me to marry? No, no. The apostle Paul says that's not a sin. Hey, you follow God's leading in your life. But he encourages, verse 29, that time is short. So he's thinking about, okay, this external pressure on the church, he's talking about also in his mind, as ours should be, hey, we're living in such a way, we're expecting Jesus Christ to return at any day. I know some people are expecting the second coming tomorrow because of a second presidency. I don't know if it's gonna come tomorrow. Some of you are thinking that the Lord Jesus will come because the Buckeyes are gonna win a championship, perhaps. If Jesus Christ came, that'd be more important than anything that's ever happened in this world and will ever happen again. We look forward to it with anticipation. But the encouragement is also that we live our life in such a way that we are ready for his return. He talks about purchasing. He says, down in verse 31, that use this world, or use and abuse this world is his idea, as not abusing it. for the fashion of the world passeth away. Don't hold tightly to the things of this world. I read a book this last year called Severe Mercy, and it chronicled a beautiful romance of a couple who went to Oxford University. While they were there, they came in contact with many born-again Christians. They weren't Christians, and they really had a beautiful, sweet romance, and it really is an interesting story, true story. And they became so interested in Christianity that they began to do a little research. And the husband, his mind was such, if he's going to find out about Christianity, I'm gonna talk to an expert. And so he began writing letters to C.S. Lewis. And C.S. Lewis would write back to him. And he didn't just give like a clear gospel presentation. He was helping this man to understand who God is and why he needed salvation. Well, ultimately the husband did come to faith in Jesus Christ. And their beautiful romance continued, and they were fun, and they decided, you know, they loved each other so much and wanted to enjoy each other that they wouldn't have any children, and they lived their life. And even after both husband and wife came to faith in Jesus Christ, they were now faithful church attenders, they were growing Christians, but they really lived for their romance. And years later, the wife would die of cancer. And the husband, in the conclusion of the book, tells how though they valued their relationship, he says, I think we did wrong. We didn't honor God by not having a family. He said, I think we were so focused on ourselves and our marriage and our romance that we didn't help and serve those around us. You know, a married person can live a selfish life. A single person, you could be single as a Pringle and selfish as a Sal. It's possible to be single and not be ministry-minded, not service-minded. But the present situation which God has placed you today is where God wants you to serve Him. He continues on and explains to us, verse 32, I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried, care for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. And again, he's talking about focus. He's talking about attention. He gives the example of the man and the woman. He says the singles, they can devote themselves to serving God with their life. He said married people, they certainly can serve the Lord as well, but there's other responsibilities and obligations. And so Paul's mindset in the middle of a crisis with impending persecution, what was he saying? Hey, if you can be single, great. We're not in a war today in our country, but we may be tomorrow. And maybe passages like this will take on a new meaning to us if we find ourselves in our generation in the same kind of crisis that previous generations, that maybe your parents and your grandparents experienced in one of the two Great World Wars. Maybe we will think differently about this. If the unexpected comes and all of a sudden persecution does come to our country, will we think differently about how we live our Christian life? How will we know what to do? Well, God has not left us without a voice. In God's word and passages like this, the Apostle Paul, he said, well, this doesn't relate at all to us in our situation. Oh, it does, because he's pointing us to the attention that we should have, to God, his will, his word, His passions. The gospel must be a passion that guides us. We consider our situation, we consider the climate of our world today, what's taking place, how do we live as Christians in this world, that's important. We have to be careful with the choices we make. It's important that we evaluate our life, that we take spiritual inventory, making sure we're living in a way that pleases the Lord. But I wanna ask you a question this morning. What is God doing in our world today? Read our Bibles from Genesis to Revelation. You say, okay, according to God's word, what is God doing in the world in 2025? What's he doing? What is God's great purpose today in the world? Well, he's calling out a people for his name. He's using believers who have received the gospel to share the good news of the gospel. Ultimately, what is God doing in the world today? He is saving souls. Why did Jesus come? To seek and to save that which was lost. And so, I wanna ask you a question. What are you doing to be a part of what God is doing? Are you living your life in such a way, are you holding lightly to the things of this world so that you can invest your time, your effort, your energy, your schedule, your resources, to the work that God is doing of calling out of people, saving souls, getting the gospel to the lost. There's a couple of principles I found in this passage. Service, number one, is essential for every Christian. Paul doesn't say it exactly that way, but it's inferred. Service is essential for every Christian. God will grow you through service. It's our physical exercise. You can take in and you can take in, you can take in, you can be a part of Bible studies every day of the week. But if you have no outlet, guess what? You're gonna be spiritually fat and useless. God wants us to exercise and we exercise through our service. God wants you to serve. And ultimately in service, how do we serve? We gather around the gospel. Now, what you may be doing in service may not be related directly to sharing the gospel at this moment, but you can participate in such a way to free others to do that. Maybe it's through serving in the nursery, or perhaps it's teaching in a Sunday school class, or helping to set up tables around the church, or hopping in and saying, you know what, I wanna be a blessing to somebody in the church this week. I wanna prepare a meal for them. You say, what does that have to do with the gospel? Everything, because you're showing the love of Jesus Christ to the people of God. You're being a light. You're enabling the gospel to go forward and for people to hear the word of God. Service is essential for every Christian. Number two, sacrifice may be necessary. And the Apostle Paul, as he talked to those who are single, and he's saying, you know what? Maybe you need to sacrifice that desire for this present time so you can more effectively give your attention to God's word. Sacrifice may be necessary in ministry. Number three, single-minded devotion to Jesus Christ is mandatory. Again, it wasn't just for preachers and missionaries and evangelists and Christian school teachers. He's talking to the entire church. He wanted them to be Christ-focused, single-minded in their attention towards Jesus Christ. That's our calling. And then lastly, suffering may be on standby for any generation. According to God's word, we understand there may be suffering for us. around the corner. Some of you have endured suffering this year. Hardships that you didn't foresee. Difficulties and trials. And your heart is hurting today, and you are, in a sense, you want to serve God, but you are, boy, you're suffering. And it's difficult. Verse 23, I think, is a key to this passage. He says, you are bought with a price. be ye not the servants of men. Now he's talking to those who are slaves. But he's reminding them that they were purchased with the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Their life wasn't their own, nor was it anybody else's. It belongs to Jesus Christ. You know, the clock ticks. The gospel works, and the fruit lasts. As we think about our theme for the coming year, as we think about planting for the future, Oh, that we would plant the seeds of the word of God. We would build relationships by which we could share the gospel of Jesus Christ. That we would find ways to invest ourselves in those who need Jesus Christ. That we would pray for them. We would pray as you drive through town, you're praying for homes, you're praying for people that you see. You're thinking about souls. Acts 20, 24, the Apostle Paul said, None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, that I might finish my course with joy. His calling was to testify the gospel of grace of God. Galatians 6, 14, he says, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I into the world. First Corinthians 1558, he says, therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. In order to have this kind of a heart as a Christian, you're going to have to adjust your mindset. Maybe you need to dismantle the dream, like the American dream. The American dream isn't necessarily God's plan for you. The American dream says, you know, get all you can, can all you get, sit on your can. Live for retirement, that's what the American dream says. God says live for significance. Live for usefulness. I read a quote last week that said God doesn't comfort us so that we may be comfortable. He comforts us that we may comfort others. And God has put you through what you've gone through this year because he wants to use it in the lives of another. Maybe an unbeliever who's struggling today. Maybe a Christian who's suffering, but they've got unbelieving family and friends who are watching, and they're watching you care for them. Dismantle the dream, maximize your ministry. Think in terms of what God has called you to do. in light of the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back, in light of the fact that we have peace today, let's serve God where we can, where we are. Make use of the things that you normally do, where you go to work every day, where you shop every day, where you live. Ask God to give you gospel eyes to look around where you are at present. Say, God, help me to be used of you in this place. Maximize your ministry. And then go with the gospel. And God does call some to go. God does call some, like the Apostle Paul, to go where the gospel isn't preached, to take the gospel. Where we have missionaries who are setting foot in this coming month in places where there is not a gospel witness. And you say, why would they do that? There was a day when missionaries would pack their belongings in a casket because they never planned on coming home. And the temptation is for a young person today to say, I would serve God with my life if they only had better Wi-Fi. We're so self-focused, we've forgotten that the gospel of Jesus Christ, it should be an all-consuming passion of our heart. Why? Because we've been bought with a price. The blood of Jesus Christ paid for me, not to live for me. but to serve him. A.J. Gordon was a pastor in Boston, Massachusetts. And one day he was walking into the church and there's a little boy standing outside and he had a rusty old rickety cage with some bedraggled birds inside. Jordan inquired about those birds. He says they were fluttering nervously. And he said, son, where did you get those birds? The boy replied, I trapped them out in the field. And Gordon said, what are you going to do with them? The boy said, well, I'm going to play with them for a little bit, and then I'm just going to feed them to the old cat we have at home. When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad explained, mister, you don't want them. little old wild birds and they can't sing very well. Gordon replied, I'll give you $2 for the cage and the birds. The boy said, okay, but you're making a bad bargain. The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around the back of the church property and he opened the door of the small wire coop and he let the struggling creatures soar in the blue. Perhaps those birds found a branch in a tree nearby. The next Sunday he took the empty cage to the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ's coming to seek and to save the lost, paying for them with his own precious blood. He said, that boy told me the birds were not songsters, but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, It seemed to me that they were singing, redeemed, redeemed, redeemed. Oh, the precious blood of Jesus. The price that was paid. We're free. and we find our way to those branches, the principles of God's Word, free in Jesus Christ, free to live for Him, free to serve Him, no longer trapped in sin, no longer trapped in selfishness, no longer trapped under Satan's thumb. We've been made free. We're redeemed. May we live like it. You look at a passage like this and you can look at it with a critical eye. You can pull out your microscope and you can say, boy, Paul was a crank. He was a killjoy. Tell the singles to stay single. His focus was so directed towards the cross of Jesus Christ and the gospel going to the lost that it consumed every part of him. And he lived his life in such a way to bring as many along the path as he could to follow with him. Let's get the gospel to those who need it. Let's share the gospel with the lost. Is Christ your passion today? Is Christ your calling today? Will you seek Christ in your context today, where you are? How will Christ lead you to live? You don't know what birds may find freedom into those branches you're clutching onto today. God may use you to bring some soul to faith in Christ as you're struggling in the storm, as you're slipping and sliding through the muck and the darkness, as you're looking to God and trusting him, others are watching. But don't forget who you're watching, the Savior who's ahead. who holds his hand out to you, and he says, come. Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, learn of me, for I am meek and lowly at heart. See, Christ, Father, I thank you for your word, and I pray that we would today live not only by principles of the scripture, but we would hear your passion for the lost, that we would live our lives not taking in all we can for our own pleasure and benefit, but giving all we can for your glory in the gospel. In Jesus' name, amen.