WE BELONG TO HIM

1 CORINTHIANS 7:21-23 NKJ 
21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 

There is a powerful truth that Paul continues to emphasize.  He made this evident in chapter six when he spoke of sexual purity.  And now he is talking about slavery.  This powerful truth is that we belong to Him.   

In this seventh chapter, Paul is addressing slaves.  In no way is he making a case for slavery.  Instead, Paul is advocating a focus on the spiritual truth of belonging to Christ.   

His message to slaves is to not allow their slavery to worry them, but if they can be made free, take it.  The only way a slave can not be burdened down by slavery is to focus on a greater truth - they belong to Christ, and He sees them as free. This speaks to the revelation Paul had of how powerful it is to be in Christ.  In Christ, a slave carried the same position as the slave owner who was in Christ.  In Christ, the slave was elevated to a position of freedom while the free man in Christ belonged to Christ.  This may appear a bit confusing at face value, but the bottom line is 'in Christ the ground is level.  There is no slave, free, Jew, Gentile, male, female.  What matters is that we all belong to Him.  He is the exalted one, and in Him, we are all equals.  We all have different roles and assignments, but there is no class distinction.   

APPLICATION 

This truth changes or has the power to change our perception of ourselves and others.  We have been accustomed to "sizing each other up."  We judge each other by age, appearance, social status, material possessions.  We have many ways to figure out our place and where others rank.  But spiritually speaking, there is only one thing that counts - in Christ or not in Christ.   

We see that true Christianity is the great equalizer.  In God's eyes, the billionaire is no greater than the lowest on society's ladder.  It's only in Christ that matters.  This leaves no room for pride or poor self-esteem, just gratitude that we belong to Him.   

PRAYER 

Thank You, Father.  It was Your plan that we are in Christ and we have been bought with a great price.  Help me see this great truth in a greater way.