1 Corinthians 16:13-14 says, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. And do everything with love.” In this post we’ll focus on the fifth command “.do everything in love.”
Here – Paul reminds the Corinthians once again what he wrote about in chapter 13 – the supremacy of love.
- When the Corinthians were fighting with each other (chapters 1-4) they weren’t acting in love.
- When they were ignoring sin in the church (chapters 5-6) they weren’t acting in love.
- When the married couples in the church were denying each other sexually (chapter 7) they weren’t acting in love.
- When they exercised their Christian liberties in ways that caused other believers to stumble (chapters 8-10) they weren’t acting in love.
- When they celebrated communion and a few people ate all the food so that the poor among them didn’t get anything to eat (chapter 11), they weren’t acting in love.
- When they exercised their spiritual gifts (chapters 12-14) they weren’t exercising them in love.
So Paul reminds them one last time before he ends his letter: Do everything in love!
- What does love look like when you have conflict with another believer? Love will do everything it can to resolve that conflict so there is no division in the church.
- What does love look like when a friend of yours here at New Day starts straying off in the wrong direction? Love gently confronts a friend and expresses concern.
- What does love look like in a marriage? Love puts the other person’s needs and wants and desires before itself.
- What does love look like in decision making? Love may be allowed to do something, but if doing that something would cause another Christian to stumble, then love does not do that thing.
- What does love look like in the home? Love respects the chain of command that God has established in the home, so a family can abide in peace and harmony.
- What does love look like when exercising spiritual gifts? Love always seeks to use the most appropriate gift – the one that is most helpful in any given situation.
- What does look look like in giving? Love gives generously to help other Christians that are in need.
As Paul wrote in chapter 13 – who cares if you possess a variety of spiritual gifts – if you don’t have love you are nothing. In everything you do, be characterized by love for Jesus said “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)