Strong and Courageous

Today’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (David Zier):

There are two things that stand out for me in this passage. They are related. Let me explain.

Verses 13 and 14: “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

This was a time when it was not easy being a Christian. Paul was imprisoned often, as was portrayed in some of his letters. Even in the turmoil of the day, Paul is saying to be alert, but to stand firm in your faith and let all that you do be done in love.

I know someone who was faced with a dilemma at work. There was a propensity for people to “cheat” a little, or “fudge” some numbers, or fabricate some information that gave the impression that they were more successful than they really were. This was how people got ahead in the company. My friend in good conscious could not do that. She was doing well and was successful, but against those who used the “fudge” numbers, it seemed that she was not doing as well. Instead of “fudging” herself, she decided to invite someone out to lunch and just ask him about what he was doing and how he was feeling about it. The response was not as expected. Her co-worker shared that his partner was recovering from cancer surgery and was going to start therapy soon. Even with their medical insurance, they had a sizeable amount to pay. He was in survival mode to keep afloat so that the treatment could begin and be completed. He did not like the idea of fudging the numbers, but “every one else was doing it, so I figured it was okay.”

My friend shared with me that she sensed that her co-worker knew that it was wrong and felt pretty guilty, but he tried to cover that up. My friend told him, “If you need help, ask your family, ask your friends, and reach out.” My friend said, “I will do what I can to help.”

The second thing that stood out for me is what Paul communicates in verses 1-3 and 15, about giving to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem. In other words, giving to those in need. Giving what extra we have to help others. Do to others in love. I don’t think it was by accident that these two messages are in this passage.

The sky is the limit sometimes, regarding what we might do out of desperation. I can relate to years of dealing with medical issues and not quite knowing what is really happening; while at the same time, the bills are piling up. And then reality sets in, and we have to change gears so we get back on track.

In our world, keeping alert may mean something a little different. We live in a world where we are bombarded with lots of conflicting messages. Keeping alert is watching out for those traps that can consume us, like my friend’s co-worker. Standing firm in faith and being strong and courageous can mean to do the right thing, even when it is really hard. Letting all we do be done in love could mean just being honest with someone, providing a listening ear, or encouraging someone to reset their compass. It may require us to step out and help someone in a way that is new or even uncomfortable.

My friend’s co-worker is only one example. There are so many ways Paul’s words play out in our day-to-day lives. What does this mean for you? Keep alert. Stand firm in faith. Be strong and courageous. Let all you do be done in love!

Thought for the day: How am I strong and courageous? How do I do things out of love?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.