Do I Bloom Where I’m Planted?

Corinthian Questions Series (Part 7)
A Sermon By Jim Hammond from (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
On Mother’s Day

I received the following as an email forward from a friend. The source is unknown:

The Greatest Occupation

A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at The County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a..."

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"And what is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). "Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood ..what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door.

This mother was determined to bloom where she was planted. In fact, she had blossomed as a mother, and she knew it.

The Discouraged Worker

One woman was very discouraged at work. She was complaining to her pastor. “The boss treats me horribly, everyone is poking fun at my faith. Of the one hundred employees, I think I’m the only Christian there. I dread going to work each day. I’m getting so discouraged, I’m ready to quit.”

The pastor replied, “God must think a lot of your faith.”

“Why do you say that?” replied the discouraged worker.

“He must think a lot of you to entrust all 100 of those people who don’t yet know him in the hands of only one Christian employee. Perhaps you need to quit looking at your job as a way of making income, and begin looking at it as your mission field. I don’t think God would have you quit, and remove the only light from that workplace, do you?”

“I never thought of it that way before.”

This new perspective made all the difference. The woman began praying for her fellow workers and trying to make a difference in their lives, rather than just put in another day’s work to make a paycheck. She began to bloom where she was planted.

Some of you juggle jobs and motherhood. It is like the cartoon showing the psychologist talking to his patient. "Let's see," he said, "You spend 50 percent of your energy on your job, 50 percent on your husband and 50 percent on your children. I think I see your problem."

Focus: Don’t be so concerned with what you could be doing somewhere else that you miss the opportunities where you are. Function faithfully in the place God has planted you.

Paul addressed some concerns with the Corinthian church. He has just confronted the faction of the church that was sexually immoral. They were one extreme. But the Corinthian church also had another extreme. There was a faction that was saying celibacy was the way to go, even for married people. Paul needed to correct them in this. He begins to show how to live out the Christian life in whatever social status you find yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you are Greek, or Jewish, male or female, single or married, slave or free. Everyone can serve Christ as they are. Too many new Christians in the Corinthian church were trying to change too much. Some married people even thought they should leave their spouses who had not yet become Christians. This was part of the confusion Paul addresses in chapter 7. But we are going to jump right into the middle of his discussion to apply the following truth to ourselves.

I. Bloom Where You Are Planted

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (NIV) ¹⁷Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ¹⁸Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. ²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²²For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. ²³You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

Os Guinness said, “ The main problem with American Christians is not that they aren't where they should be but that they are not what they should be right where they are as doctors, housewives, lawyers, computer salesmen, or nurses.”[i] I think Paul would agree.

If you are a new Christian: Bloom where you are planted

Just because you became a Christian doesn’t mean you should immediately take sudden and drastic action to change the external circumstances of your life. Don’t be in a hurry to change the external circumstances simply because you have become a Christian. Retain the place that the Lord has you assigned. Don’t retain the behavior but retain the place. For example. Maybe you have a number of friends that you used to hang around with. Maybe you can stop doing all the wrong things you were doing with them, but you don’t have to stop being their friend. Your changed behavior, and changed life is exactly what they need to see. They don’t need to see you disappear and resent Christianity for taking you away. Bloom where you are planted.

One of the best things you can do right off in your Christian experience, is to invite all of your friends, even the ones who don’t believe, or go to church, to be a part of your new life. New believers should be encouraged to consider inviting their non-believing friends to their baptism. They can also invite them to their small group, or church or an outreach Christian event. The point is, don’t quit that job, club or social network. Find out how to bloom there.

A. How do I bloom?

1. Start Where You Are

3 Repetitions and 3 Examples: Paul repeats himself three times (v. 17, v. 20, & v. 24). In effect, 3 times Paul says, “Remain as you are—Bloom where you are planted” (v. 17, v. 20, & v. 24). Paul gives 3 examples of this, the case of marital status, the case of circumcision, and the case of slavery. But these are just specific examples within his own culture.

Paul does give the EXCEPTION to the principle of remaining where you are: v. 21 “if you can gain your freedom, do so.” Look at verse 23 again.

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”

There is an exception for us as well. If you are stuck in sin that is diametrically opposed to the freedom Christ bought you for, get your freedom! This can be applied to all forms of slavery – it holds true for any form of addiction, or any form of sin that you are stuck in. God didn’t plant you there. Plow that hardened ground, and allow Christ to uproot you and gently transplant you back into his garden of grace.

God does not plant you anyplace where you will become root bound. There is always room for growth.

SIDE QUESTION: Didn’t Paul think slavery was wrong? Yes. But Paul was less concerned in this context with addressing the need to change the social condition by challenging it than he was concerned with developing the counter cultural community that would be planted right side up in an upside down world! Paul sowed the seeds for a revolution. The revolution started in the hearts of men and women one by one. Slowly over time the numbers of these faithful people increased to the point of social change. Clearly it is our job to bloom. If we don’t bloom we will not be noticed at all and we will be trampled underfoot and forgotten.

One can live out his Christianity effectively even under the adverse and perhaps wrong circumstances like slavery. In this case, he does urge Christians if they can gain their freedom to do so. Nevertheless, the principle still remains. The key to happiness and effectiveness is not the circumstances and externals around us. He urges us to bloom where we are planted.

Perhaps you have been waiting for your circumstances to change before you can be happy. Stop waiting. You can bloom where you are planted now.

I want you to ask yourself this question, “Where is my mission field?” Go ahead and write down your answer.

2. Identify your Roles

If you are single: Bloom as a single.

You are not incomplete. You are whole. In fact Paul argues that in this chapter “in view of this present crisis” (v. 26) that it would be better if you could remain as a single because you can serve God with undivided devotion. In times of heavy persecution it is much to your advantage being single. Your heart and time aren’t split up trying to please and protect your spouse and children. But it isn’t a hard and fast command. If you want to get married and you think you can serve the Lord more effectively, then get married.

If you are married: Bloom as a happily married spouse even if you are married to a grump!

If you are a mother: Bloom as a mother, even when your kids are disobedient.

Since this is mother’s day, and since we are talking about blooming. I want to pause here and honor all the mothers who are here today. Would all the mothers please stand? Now, I want all of you to come up to the table of flowers here and pick out one pony pack to take home and plant as a reminder to you that God has carefully chosen you and planted you where you are. Now you go and bloom where you are planted. As you come up to choose, a song will be playing called “You’re my little girl.” It is a song sung as if God were speaking to you. Sometimes moms are always carrying the load for others. Here’s a song that is a reminder that you are God’s little girl and he created you, loves you, planted you, and carries your load.

3. Set “Your” Goals

The word “your” is in quotes because the best goals are God’s goals for you. We have been taught to pray that God’s will is done in our life. So while you set goals, prayerfully attempt to honor God with your goals.

Another word about goals. It would be wise to set goals that other people cannot block. For example: if your goal is the have the best marriage in the world, it only takes one person to block that goal, your spouse. When someone blocks your goal, the result is anger. That is why you better pick goals that nobody but you can block. For example: if your goal is to be the best husband or wife or mother or father you can be, the only person that can get in the way of that goal is yourself.

4. Dig In

Schedule time to achieve them

Your goals should become so specific you can schedule time to achieve them. For example: in your role as a father you might schedule a goal of meeting for lunch with your son or daughter once a month. Each week your calendar might be filled with little notations like: Role as father: Luke’s science project. Role as Husband: plan Friday date. Remember that many jobs come with multiple roles: For example: I set goals as a pastor, an administrator, and a teacher.

How do you bloom where you are planted? Paul gives a clear answer: “Keep God’s commandments” (v. 19)

For Christians this does not mean attempting to follow all 613 Old Testament commandments. This is obvious because Paul calls one of the commandments, circumcision, nothing, immaterial, neither here nor there! (v. 19). What we are to obey is Jesus and the Apostles reinterpretations and applications of God’s commandments. Do you know where you find those? The New Testament. Some people think we have to go to the theologians to figure out how to harmonize the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. That isn’t true. The theologians don’t tell us how to harmonize these two. The New Testament IS ALREADY the Apostolic harmonization of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. If you follow the New Testament, you will be following how the Old Covenant is fulfilled in the New Covenant!

How do you bloom? “Keep God’s commandments.” On Mother’s Day let me say this, Parents, are you teaching your children the importance of obedience? In the series, "Growing Kids God's Way", Gary Ezzo says, "When a child continually disobeys, he is in sin. When parents continually reinforce that disobedience, (by not dealing with it) they are in sin. Obedience and disobedience are moral acts, not individual preferences." Our obedience is of paramount importance to God. Don’t ignore disobedience in your children. Don’t ignore your own disobedience.

How do you bloom? “Keep God’s commandments.” Be faithful. He didn’t say dump your unbelieving spouse. He didn’t say quit your job and go to seminary. He said be faithful precisely where you are. Bloom where you are planted.

5. Partner With God

Pray “Thy kingdom come”

Watch to see what God is doing.

Look around you to see what God is doing around you. He is up to something in your life. He has a plan and a purpose for you. Look for what he is doing around you. That’s your mission field. Partner with what you see God doing. Here’s how it usually works.

Watch With Miner’s Cap Vision

God never shows you everything about his purpose for you. He reveals it a little at a time. It is like he has issued you a miner’s cap with a headlamp on it. You stand there in the dark and can only see ten or twelve feet. You can’t say to God, I can’t see far enough to know where to go, or what to do. He says, well, walk in what you do see. When you obey what you see and know now, He will show you the next steps. You can see right now far enough to work and to walk in what God has already revealed to you. You may never see what God has for you further down the way until you are faithful with what you see and what he reveals now. What circumstances has God given you? Bloom where you are planted.

The myth of the greener grass

Many look longingly over the fences of their lives at the greener grass on the other side of the fence. They compare the greener grass of someone else’s marriage to their marriage, and long for their marriage to be better. They see their own marriages as dried up brown grass. They look longingly over the fence at someone else’s children, their lawn looks so green, lush, and trimmed into obedience. Theirs looks like an unruly jungle in comparison. They look longingly over the fence at someone else’s job that seems exciting, and look at their own as boring.

I want to tell you that the greener grass on the other side of the fence is a myth. It is not greener on the other side of the fence. In fact it isn’t greener just because it is on this side of the fence. The grass is only greener where it is watered and cared for. Bloom where you are planted!

God has called you to bloom. He has called you for a particular reason to the set of circumstances you experience. Have you been called to motherhood? Bloom. Have you been called to fatherhood? Bloom! Have you been placed in a less than desirable job? Bloom! Have you been struggling with less than desirable health complications? Let your faith Bloom! When you feel stuck, maybe you really aren’t stuck at all. You’ve just been planted.

[i] Os Guinness, quoted by Howard Hendricks, "Beyond the Bottom Line," Preaching Today, Tape No. 101.