The church at Corinth in Paul’s first letter was a jacked up church if there ever was one. From sexual immorality, incest, division, suing each other, marriage misconceptions, clothing, and men not acting like men and women not acting like women; this church has its issues.
At the end of this letter, Paul makes a charge to the men of the Church at Corinth.
1. Be Watchful
2. Stand Firm in Faith
3. Act Like Men
4. Be Strong
5. Let all that you do be done in love.
I’m convicted through this scripture that if men lead their lives in this manner many issues of the day would become resolved with the Gospel.
WATCHFUL
grēgoreō- to keep awake. The word here in the Greek implies that we are called to STAY AWAKE by. Vigilance is key to victory. The unwatched field will always be vulnerable for scavenging. The same is true in the spiritual.
If I don’t stay watchful over my life, my walk with Christ, and my family, then vulnerabilities will continue to compromise the promises of God for my life.
This reminds me of the proverb that states “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man”( Proverbs 6:10-11).
STAND FIRM
I’m order to stand firm there must be substance and confidence in what I am digging my heels into. Perhaps the reason we don’t stand firm, is because we don’t labor in the word and prayer like we should. I’ll never be able to stand firm in a faith I know nothing about. I’ll never know God’s will if I don’t even crack open His word.
Act Like Men
Jesus is the epitome of what a man is. Yes, the Scriptural portrayal and revelation of Jesus Christ is the model of Biblical masculinity. Masculinity is GOOD and healthy for the body of Christ. Be a lover of God. Be faithful to your covenant relationship with Him. Serve Him! Follow His teachings. BE.A.MAN.
Be Strong
It is impossible to be strong on our own. No matter how many weights you can sling around the gym, there is a strength that can only come from God. This is the strength that allows us to endure sufferings and hardships. This is also the strength that keeps our eyes open when we feel our spiritual eye lids are heavy and we are tired. Be strong.
Do it in LOVE
Lastly, men are called to do all things in love. Masculinity minus love is toxic masculinity. Alertness or staying awake without love is to be controlling. Standing firm without love is simply being on the moral high road.
However, when we walk in love and do all things in love, we are walking as Jesus did. We are modeling His example and standard for living here on earth.
The church is waiting for men to be men. So let’s be it.
Nate Staton 