1 Corinthians 16:10-14: a reflection

10Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. 12Now concerning Apollos the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity. 13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 14Let all that you do be done in love.

Paul closes his letter with a series of brief, pointed exhortations: Be watchful; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. And then, immediately, he adds one more that colors all the rest: Let all that you do be done in love. The calls to watchfulness, firmness, courage, and strength are not to stand alone; they are to be carried out in love. Strength and firmness, without love, can become harsh; but held together with love, they are the marks of a mature and healthy faith.

Notice how Paul joins strength and love. He calls for watchfulness, firmness, courage, strength, all qualities of a strong faith; and then, lest these become hard or harsh, he adds: let all be done in love. Firmness in the faith is not to be a harsh or loveless thing; courage and strength are to be exercised in love. The two belong together: strength without love can wound, but love without strength can waver; together they make a faith both firm and gracious.

That joining of strength and love is worth taking to heart. We can be tempted to one side or the other: to a firmness and strength that becomes harsh and unloving, or to a love that is soft and lacks firmness. But Paul joins them: be strong and firm, and let all be done in love. Hold both together in your own faith and dealings: be watchful, firm, courageous, strong, but let all of it be done in love. Do not let your firmness become harshness, nor your love become weakness; be strong and loving at once, firm in the faith and gracious in love. The strength Paul calls for is to be exercised in love; let your own strength and firmness be governed by love, so that you stand firm without wounding, and love without wavering, as Paul's closing words commend.

Lord, Paul closes his letter with pointed exhortations: be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong; and then adds one that colors all the rest, let all that you do be done in love. Help me take that joining of strength and love to heart. I can be tempted to one side or the other: to a firmness and strength that becomes harsh and unloving, or to a love that is soft and lacks firmness. But Paul joins them: be strong and firm, and let all be done in love. Help me hold both together in my own faith and dealings: to be watchful, firm, courageous, strong, but to let all of it be done in love. Keep my firmness from becoming harshness, and my love from becoming weakness; help me be strong and loving at once, firm in the faith and gracious in love. The strength Paul calls for is to be exercised in love; let my own strength and firmness be governed by love, so that I stand firm without wounding, and love without wavering, as Paul's closing words commend. Make me both strong and loving, Lord.