Year 2, Day 84: 1 Corinthians 16

Saving Money

In this last chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul advises the Corinthians about “the collection” and about his travel plans.  Paul is collecting money to help bring relief to the widows and orphans in Jerusalem while he is out planting churches.

Now, Paul gives us some pretty good advice in this section.  “On the first day of the week, put aside some money so that there does not need to be a collection when I come.”

Now there is some really good advice.  Has any parent out there ever tried to teach your child to save money for something they have to buy?  This is a great verse to bring up and explain to your child.  If the Corinthians really want to care about the orphans and widows, then they need to demonstrate it weekly in small chunks so the sacrifice is small and manageable.  Then when Paul comes, they will be able to show their love for the orphans without causing much internal stress.  However, if the Corinthians don’t save up bit by bit, then when the time comes for Paul to collect the money, either the Corinthians will be shamed because they were lazy or they will have to give a large amount all at once.  Saving money is hard, but saving money is far easier a few dollars each week than one large chunk of money when it is needed.

Travel

In the next section, Paul talks a little bit about his travel plans.  In this section, he talks about a door having been opened for him in Ephesus.  This is pretty neat, because it shows us that Paul is interested in sharing what God is doing in his life.  Paul wants to include the Corinthians into the ministry that God is accomplishing through Paul.  We should desire to include the Christians in our midst in the work that God is doing through us.

Words of Advice

Then Paul gives some final instructions: be watchful, stand firm, act like men, be strong, act in love.

• Be watchful – this should remind us of the warning that Jesus gives as His ministry comes to an end.  Keep alert!  Pay attention!  Don’t slack off!  Don’t let your guard be down!
• Stand firm – this is not a call to stubbornly stand in your beliefs.  After all, how many people did Jesus meet who refused to listen to him because they were stubborn?  Rather, this is a call to grow into deep spiritual maturity.  How many times in this letter has Paul accused the Corinthians of having an immature faith?  These words tell the Corinthians to stop being immature and adopt a mature faith.
• Act like men – The translation “act like men” is literally correct, but the expression is just as figurative as we use it today.  We don’t mean for everyone to act as if they are male, we mean it to say “be courageous” or “have the guts to make the hard choices.”  This is what Paul means here as well.  It is difficult to live as God wants us to live.
• Be strong – This is a call to mental fortitude.  The spiritually strong person has what it takes to accomplish spiritual discipline.  Paul is admonishing them to be spiritually disciplined.
• Do everything in love – Love must balance our actions and our choices, especially if we are in a situation of constant turmoil as the Corinthian church was in.  When we have people in our midst who do anything and everything to create conflict, we must be attentive to acting in love.

Then Paul encourages submission.  Paul encourages the Corinthians to submit to the authority of the house of Stephanas and people like them.  Who are the people in your life who are genuinely submitting to God?  Be like them.  Follow them.  Become like Christ through their example in your life.

Hope and Grace

Paul ends this first letter to the Corinthians with a word of hope and grace.  Paul’s perspective here is that the church has a lot of work to do, but it can turn the ship around and get back on course!  No situation is ever too bleak so long as people are alive and capable of repentance.  The question is – are people willing to repent? 

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