What Does 1 Corinthians 7:17 Mean?

Name: Parker
Question: I was wondering if you could explain 1 Corinthians 7:17. It says, each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

Does this mean to stay single, if that’s how you found the Lord?

Answer: Thank you for the question Parker.

Not quite.

Let’s read the verse together.

1 Corinthians 7:17
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 churches.

We’re being told, God provides us with blessings and gifts. So we are to use whatever gift that God has blessed us with, and use those gifts to accomplish His will throughout our life.

Now, let’s back up just a bit.

Let’s read a few verses prior to this statement to dial in the thought.

1 Corinthians 7:7
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Paul’s saying, his preference is for everyone to be a traveling preacher like himself.

However, everyone has a separate and distinct gift from God.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Here we have it again.

In verse 8, we read of Pauls’s own wishes.

In verse 9, we have the caveat of God’s Will and the gifts He bestows upon each of us.

What we’re being told is, if you’re going to be a preacher, it’s better to stay single. You’ll have more time to dedicate to God and fewer distractions in life.

However, if you cannot stay single due to the natural passion for a spouse, then it’s much better to marry. Otherwise, you’re trying to pastor as a single man, while you’re “burning” with passion. Talk about a disaster in the making!

Make note, “burn” even means “lust,” and in this context, it’s in a natural sense.

So being a single pastor, but living with that passion and not fulfilling it while trying to serve God will only cause heartache. In the end, it’s going to distract you from serving God which would be a waste of that spiritual gift.

So, get married and serve God.

You will serve in a different capacity, but you will serve no less, and you will not “burn” with passion for the rest of your days.