How to Be Ready to Love

Scripture

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love” 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (NKJV).

*Prayer*

Introduction

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church was one that addressed problems in the church. Paul wrote about the problem of divisions; sexual sin; lawsuits among believers; sexual immorality; problems related to marriage; problems concerning idols; and last of all problems related to worship and the spiritual gifts. ---- When I read through that list a few times I begin to notice a common thread that seems to run from one end of 1 Corinthians to the other. Do you know what it is? ---- What Paul says in this letter is directly related to the way we treat one another, and that, whether we like to admit it or not, is in turn a direct reflection of the way we love each other, among the people of God. ---- Let me tell you what’s really interesting about that; I don’t know if you realize it or not, but Paul assumes from the get-go that the people he’s writing to are believers because in 1 Cor. 1:4 he wrote the following (listen to how one contemporary translation renders what Paul says), “4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way – with all your eloquent words and all your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true” (1 Cor. 1:4-6, NLT). ---- These people were believers! But if so, how is it, then, that they had so many problems and treated each other so rotten? ---- I’d be willing to argue that the answer to that question rests in the fact that while they were believers just like us, and going through the life-long process of sanctification, they still battled the pull of sin. Now, let me be crystal clear in what I’m saying here, and what I’m not saying! Even though you are a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ, you will still struggle, sometimes in a mighty way, with certain things, but that struggle doesn’t mean giving in to those things is either okay or right. The fact is, that struggle carries a direct relationship to, and influences how you love other brothers and sisters in Christ. ---- But that brings up a question, does it not; when you’re in the middle of that battle, fighting hard, how can you be ready to love? ---- At the end of his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul gives us some insight into that question. In 1 Cor. 16:13-14 Paul presents four attitudes that point us to how believers should live in watchful steadfast faith, growing in maturity and strength that leads to love. Let’s take a look at it.

Attitude 1: Be Watchful

Explanation: The first attitude is to be watchful. Now, what does Paul mean when he says that? The Greek word that’s used there is γρηγορέω (grēgoreō) and carries with it the meaning of staying awake. In fact, it’s the same word that Jesus used in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew’s Gospel when he was talking about what times are going to be like when he returns (Mt. 24:36-44). Listen to what Jesus said, 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they (that is unbelievers) were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (in other words, they were simply living life) 39 and did not know until the flood came and swept them all away (Who gets swept away; who gets taken in judgement? ---- Unbelievers! That’s important because of what Jesus is getting ready to say!), so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left (Who was taken? Not the believers, but the unbelievers!). 42 Watch (stay awake (γρηγορέω (grēgoreō) therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would have watched (stayed awake (γρηγορέω (grēgoreō) and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Mt. 24:36–44).

Argumentation: Here’s the thing church, being prepared for what lies ahead should drive you to have an attitude of watchfulness in all things. We have no clue when Christ will return, and that requires we live in a way that’s cognizant of the fact that we will give an account for our actions, and that attitude should illuminate both how you live among and how you love other brothers and sisters in Christ. Why(?), because it shows them that you really do care about their well-fare and what happens to them.

Appeal: The question you and I need to be asking ourselves is this, are we living with a watchful attitude that leads others, in love, to do the same? ---- Now, I know that brings up the following question, “How do I do that?” Well, that’s what Paul tells us next in v.13, when he gives us the second attitude. Take a look at what he says.

Attitude 2: Steadfastness

Explanation: Paul says we’re to “stand fast in the faith”. We might call this second attitude steadfastness, and it helps us to know how to be watchful because this type of attitude, steadfastness in faith, builds off of and feeds from our watchfulness of what lies ahead, and here’s why. As you and I live our daily lives we’re either 1) getting ready to enter into some kind of trial; 2) we’re in the middle of a trial; or 3) we’re coming out of a period of trial, which really, in and of itself, means we’re preparing to start the whole cycle over again. Now, stop right there and think about it! ---- What does each one of those periods, surrounding the trials you face, require? ---- It requires you to “stand fast in the faith”, it means that you have to have a faith that’s steadfast.

Illustration: I remember several years ago when I received word from my wife that one of our children, a few weeks before birth, had some serious health problems. I had actually gone on vacation with the church we were attending to a museum that was several hours away when my wife called me and gave me the news. It felt like I had a huge lump in my throat that I couldn’t seem to get rid of, but at the end of the day I knew what I had to do. I had to lay it at the foot of the cross and turn it all over to God because there was nothing I could do about the situation. Do you know what that required on my part? ---- It required that I have a steadfast/firm faith, not only for me, but also for my wife. You see, it wasn’t that I was having faith for her per se, but the fact that my faith displayed itself as being steadfast actually helped to give her the ability to get through the whole situation, as did her faith for me.

Argumentation: And that, my friends, is the crux of what Paul is pointing us to in v.14 when he says, “Let all that you do be done with love.”, because that’s what brotherly love is all about! A faith that’s steadfast looks ahead in watchfulness with love, trusting that in the end everything will be okay. That type of love points the other person to the very source from which it comes, Jesus Christ.

Appeal: Let me ask you, do you have that kind of love for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, a love that shows itself in steadfast/firm faith. If not, why not ask God to give it to you and help you to know how to love better!

Attitude 3: Be Mature in Faith

Explanation: Let’s look at the third attitude, which I’ll call being mature in faith. Depending on the translation you’re using, your text might say something like be brave or be courageous, but literally the one word that’s used in Greek (ἀνδρίζεσθε andrizesthe) could be translated as “… act like men (so ESV; NASB; KJV “quit like men”)”. Now, what does that mean, and what does it have to with an attitude that points toward how we should love our brothers and sisters in Christ? ---- I think the answer to that question can be found in the great love chapter of 1 Cor. 13, and here’s why (have them turn to 1 Cor. 13). In chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians Paul addresses the issue of using spiritual gifts in the church because some people were elevating one gift above another. You know, my gift is better than yours is! Obviously, this would have caused some serious tension in the church, but then, in chapter 13, Paul turns that on its head because, despite the fact that all of those gifts were awesome, he said that there was “still more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31b, ESV), that being the way of love. Then, in chapter 13, Paul’s launches into an exposition on love, and when he finally arrives at the end of what he wants to say about how the way of love is better listen to what he says in 1 Cor. 13:11, “11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11). Now, when you consider what Paul means when he says, “be brave (act like men) that sounds a lot like what we’re talking about in 1 Cor. 16:13 doesn’t it.

Argumentation: Paul’s point ladies is not that you need to become more manly, or for you men listening, that you need to hit the weight room more often. No, Paul’s point here when he says in v.13, “be brave (Lit. act like men)” is that when you give up “childish things/ways”, you begin to mature in your faith, and that maturity needs to shed light on how you love. You see, there needs to be a point in your Christian walk when you move past childhood and become mature in your faith. A mature faith is mature because it has the qualities of watchfulness and steadfastness we’ve just talked about, and because it has those things it seeks to guide those under its leadership in love to the same maturity.

Appeal: So, let me ask you, do you have a mature faith, or are you still living on milk? There must come a point in your Christian walk when you grow into maturity whether you’re 8 or 98, and if that’s not you, you need to be asking yourself why you’re not doing it!

Attitude 4: Be Strong/Vigorous

Explanation: The fourth attitude is given at the end of v.13, be strong, or better, become strong. The wording of the original language suggests becoming healthy or vigorous.

Illustration: Do any of you remember the commercials that used to come on TV about Energizer batteries? If you do, I’m sure you’ll remember the Energizer Bunny that kept going and going and going … The slogan was “Still going … Nothing outlasts the Energizer battery!” On some of the commercials the arch enemy of the Energizer battery company was rival battery company called Supervolt. Every time Supervolt would come up with a scheme to steel the battery out of the Energizer Bunny, something would happen, and they would find out that their equipment was powered by Supervolt batteries which always went dead too quick! Those Supervolt batteries just weren’t as vigorous as those Energizers that powered the Energizer Bunny! ---- I don’t know if you realize it or not, but if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ the power that energizes you is stronger and more vigorous than anything you could possibly imagine!

Argumentation: You see, the amazing thing about Paul telling us to be strong is that when believer is watchful, steadfast, and mature in their faith, strength will, in turn, follow, which starts the cycle again (watchfulness; steadfastness; maturity; strength; …)! Why(?), because God himself has empowered the believer through the Holy Spirit! Now, here’s what’s interesting, this cycle that’s created (watchfulness; steadfastness; growth into maturity; strength; …) does something amazing for me and you as followers of Jesus Christ, it helps us to do what Paul says in v.14. Take a look at what he says.

16:14 “Living Out Love”

Explanation / Argumentation: In v.14 Paul writes, “Let all that you do be done with/in love.” What Paul writes there echoes 1 Peter 4:8 where the text reads, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” Did you catch what Peter said? ---- “Above all things have fervent love one another …” Of all the things you could possibly do for your brothers and sisters in Christ, the most important is to love them selflessly. I actually like the way the HCSB renders 1 Cor. 16:14 better because of the way the translation puts emphasis on what Paul is calling on believers to do. In 1 Cor. 16:14 the HCSB reads like this, “Your every action must be done with love.” I like that because it lines up well with what John says in 1 Jn. 4:20, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar …” Friend, if you want assurance that you are a real follower of Jesus, the fact that you love the people of God proves it! How do you do it; how do you love like that? ---- You live with a watchful steadfast faith that grows in maturity and strength pointing you to a self-sacrificing love for the people of God. That’s how we Christians are commanded to love each other.

Conclusion

My concluding question for you is this, is this how you love your brothers and sister in Christ?

Invitation

Closing Prayer