What Matters

Readings:
Job 10
I Corinthians 7

Focus:
I Corinthians 7:19: "Circumcision or uncircumcision is neither here nor there; what matters is to keep God's commands."

Paul is in the midst of a discussion of whether or not it is important to change one's external marks or condition in life when one becomes a Christian. Circumcision had been one of the most important indications of belonging to the religious community. What Paul says is that circumcision, or any other external mark or condition in life, has nothing to do with whether or not you belong to God.

Instead, Paul says, the important thing is to keep God's commands. And the greatest command of them all, Jesus said, is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. The second commandment, he said, was to love our neighbor as ourselves.

This is what matters.