1 Corinthians 16:1-9: a reflection

1Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 2On the first day of every week, let each one of you save as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come. 3When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me. 5I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 6But with you it may be that I will stay with you, or even winter with you, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 7For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Paul, writing of his travel plans, mentions that he will stay in Ephesus for a while, and gives his reason: a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. Notice how he holds those two things together: an open door of opportunity, and many adversaries, at the same time and in the same place. The opportunity was real and worth staying for; and yet it came not with the absence of opposition, but alongside many adversaries. Open door and opposition together.

Notice that Paul does not treat the many adversaries as a reason to leave, or as a sign the door was not truly open. He sees both together: a wide door for effective work, and many adversaries. The opposition did not mean the opportunity was false; it came right alongside it. Paul did not expect that a real opportunity would be free of opposition, or that opposition meant he should give up the opportunity. Both were true at once, and he stayed for the open door despite the adversaries.

That is worth remembering, for we often assume that opposition means we are on the wrong path, or that a true opportunity from God will be free of adversaries. But Paul found a wide open door and many adversaries together; the opposition did not cancel the opportunity. When you face opposition in a good work, do not conclude at once that the door is not really open, or that you should give up. Opposition often comes right alongside real opportunity, as it did for Paul; the adversaries do not mean the door is closed. Do not let the presence of many adversaries make you abandon a wide open door for good work. Expect opposition even in true opportunities, as Paul did, and stay for the open door despite the adversaries, rather than reading opposition as a sign to quit. Open door and adversaries often come together; do not let the one blind you to the other.

Lord, Paul stayed in Ephesus because a wide door for effective work had opened to him, and there were many adversaries; he held those two together, an open door and much opposition, at once. Help me remember that. I often assume that opposition means I am on the wrong path, or that a true opportunity from you will be free of adversaries. But Paul found a wide open door and many adversaries together; the opposition did not cancel the opportunity. When I face opposition in a good work, keep me from concluding at once that the door is not really open, or that I should give up. Opposition often comes right alongside real opportunity, as it did for Paul; the adversaries do not mean the door is closed. Keep the presence of many adversaries from making me abandon a wide open door for good work. Help me expect opposition even in true opportunities, as Paul did, and stay for the open door despite the adversaries, rather than reading opposition as a sign to quit. Help me not let the adversaries blind me to the open door, Lord, but persevere through opposition in the work you open to me.