DISCOVER THE POWER OF BEING YOURSELF
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro: #1 rule of bible study- CONTEXT.
Chapter 7 Marriage / single life…
7:17-24 Simple question? What in the world does that have to do with marriage.
- Show you a simple word- tonight… Contentment.
- Hard to learn how to be content.
- Paul uses 2 real life examples…
* Why now…
* Tonight there are singles here think if I was just married… & married thinking if just single…
* Why- society bombards us with discontentment.
Ie. Such emphasis on "looks"- most people are dissatisfied with their bodies.
- Plastic surgery, anorexic- … if certifiably ugly- go ahead.
- Implants / surgery doesn't make you who you are- IN CHRIST!
* Our contentment ought to be in HIM.

Several things tonight as we learn the POWER of CONTENTMENT!...
7:17 "Called"- when saved, (paraphrase) deal with what was in your life / hand when saved…learn to deal with that.
- Don't think that rearranging things will solve your problem.
Cp 1 Tim 6:6-12 " see the principle.
Heb 13:5-6 We allow ourselves to be manipulated by men- allow them to chase a dream /pot-of- gold (looks, person. Etc)
* (Because we will never reach that flawless state of perfection down here).
* Remember 1st rule of bible study … context go back to Heb 13:4 "Marriage" context
*** We have to learn to be CONTENT! (In marriage)
The context doesn't break- MARRIAGE.
7:17 "Distributed to EVERY man"
-(widowed, divorced, single, married, married to an unbeliever, can't get along… LEARN TO!
Paul gives 2 examples (when you understand the history of the Corinthians)
See the similarity - them & us.
1. Example #1 7:18-20 LEARN TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BODY GOD MADE FOR YOU.
7:18-20 See the historical happenings in Corinth
A. There were Jews & Gentiles in this church (mixed crowd)
1. Circumcision Jewish (Gen 17) (in Galatia some made it hard for the Gentile believers to be comfortable- because they had not been circumcised… felt the need to do it in order to fit.) Pressure was on them to be a "better believer" = circumcision (why Paul wrote Galatians)
a. Paul is saying don't worry about it.
b. In Corinth just the opposite(Gentile area) so the Jews were uncomfortable. (public gyms & bath-houses)
NOTE: So many Jews had surgery to reverse their circumcision.
Many 1st century textbooks about surgeries of this nature.

Note: Paul is saying you need to be satisfied with you partner in marriage…
Many were dissatisfied with their bodies- Paul is saying deal with it… because now matter what you do to it - you will NOT be more spiritual, more fulfilled, or more satisfied.
Our application:
Once you have met Jesus as your Savior you don't have to try to be something that you are not!
Learn to be comfortable with the way the Lord made you.
* Let's be honest…
- Some people have a more PROMINENT nose than others
- Some have odd shaped feet * other parts, but so what.
Some ears are a little larger
Some have unmanageable hair…
* The warning is clear- there is a TRAP when you think everything about you has to be perfect or like the models/or Hollywood.
Cp Ps 139:14 David had this thing figured out…

* God had a record of every feature of your anatomy- you came out just perfect.
Society tries to brainwash us to be make us feel like we were short changed from God!

Note: Many people have deformities (birth defects) but they learn HOW to deal with those restrictions.
Ie. Dr. Steven Hockings, one most brilliant men in the world- yet confined to a wheelchair, & has to communicate with a computer. Not a believer, but has gone on to deal with his problem.
Question: If he can do that, why can't you go on even if you are not a super model or movie star?
So stop complaining about your "ears, nose, legs, etc."You are just FINE!

2. Example #2 LEARN TO BE CONTENT WITH ONE'S POSITON IN LIFE. (7:21-23)
A. "Servant= slave (50% of the Roman Empire slaves)
1. In Paul's day you could be a slave & be a doctor, or in a position of real authority, but a SLAVE nonetheless . (who wants to be a slave?) NO BODY!
NOTE: No where does the bible take up social revolution when it comes to slavery-
Eph. 6:5-9 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
* Philemon- Paul ran into the runaway slave…
History tells that every culture that was controlled by Christianity slavery disappeared.
1 Cor 7:21- Paul said if a slave could go for freedom - "go for it."
Learning to be CONTENT WHERE you are right now!
Biblical Christianity is not to get in the fight to "save the American way of life".
* Paul is saying just learn to be content in the job that you are in (when saved).
Illustration: You just got saved last Sunday & you were a drug dealer- YES you need to change jobs!

Learn to be content. (You can better yourself but that will NOT make you a better or more spiritual person)

Conclusion:
1 Cor 7:24 THIRD TIME TO REPEAT HIMSELF- (7:17, 20 now 24)
See Prov 5:15-20 context of contentment (we LEARN to be content)

*Practical outline to study to be content:
Phil 4:11-13 "Learn" to be content!
How? Phil 4
1. 4:4 Learn to rejoice in the Lord - find your joy in the Lord (why don’t we do it) because I don't like the way I look)
2. 4:5 Learn to establish realistic expectations- the lottery won't do it.
Give your worries to God (4:6-7)
3. Spend some more time in Prayer (instead of Entertainment tonight)
4. Learn to give thanks )1 Thes 5:18