1 Cor 7:17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.
Verse 19 is fascinating. Circumcision is certainly a commandment of God. Sure Jesus explained what the greatest commandments are back in Matt 22
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
And showed us how these principles work in real life, particularly as His love for people was more important than obedience to the Sabbath. But this particular passage is very interesting because it speaks to thing that only affect self. Paul calls for each of us to “remain,” rather than strive to become legalistic. He goes on to apply this to being a slave or free, which I think applies to our vocations as well. Christ certainly said that anyone who forsakes their own family and belongings to follow him would reap great rewards, but it seems the vast majority of us are in another boat, and in the words of a late friend, ‘bloom where you are planted.’
Be motivated primarily by by Love. God is Love. This is walking in the Spirit.
This brings up good points. We’re still called to fulfill the spirit of the law (as opposed to the letter). Thus our “circumcision of the heart” completely fulfills the “shadow” of physical circumcision. In so doing, it seems to me that we should always seek to fulfill the HIGHER law whenever there is a conflict between two. Hence, as you’ve pointed out, loving your neighbor trumps strict adherence to the Sabbath. And likewise, if trying to do good to your neighbor (or even a family member) requires you to despise or deny your Creator, then you’ve got your priorities out of whack and you’d do better in that case to leave him by the side of the road.