1 Corithians 16:5-18
Personal Requests
5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
Here, at the end of the letter, in the midst of Paul’s messages about his friends and their travel plans, he drops in these two verses that summarise his heart for a church surrounded in cultural tensions. Be courageous but also be kind.
I think that truth can be hard to discern. It is hard to tell the difference between truth and frequency. When you hear something said enough times, you start to believe that it is true. It is hard to tell the difference between truth and popularity. If everyone believes something, then it can be hard to believe something different. It is also difficult to tell the different between truth and desires. If something validates an appetite or longing, we believe that must be true.
So, when we are bombarded with appetites and ideas, it can be really hard to know what is right and what is wrong. This is true on a theological level but also on an emotional one. For the Corinthians, these false beliefs had led them to have chaotic services, mistreat women, become proud and act selfishly.
Paul tells them to be on their guard. It reminds me of a friend who says that he has to de-secularise his children every weekend. He talks through all the cultural dynamics and what they have learnt and tries to help them to see the world through a biblical lens. Paul wants the church to build lives based on the gospel, that it should shine through us, transforming our relationships, our habits and our worship. This is the centre of the Christian life.
How can you stand firm but also do everything out of love?
