a young reformed blog designed to edify

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Paul is speaking directly to men here. The language is firm and to the point as he is urging the Corinthians to use some common sense and to fight the Greco-Roman philosophy of the time. The Greeks were known for over-spiritualizing things, and they regarded the material as non-important and the non-material or spiritual as all that mattered. They had slaves to do their work for them because phyiscal work was considered to be futile.

“Be watchful” is quite simple, yet don’t disregard the simplicity as being non-applicable for yourself. God is asking us all through Paul, “Are you doing things in your life that are causing you to fall into sin?” For some it may be staying up too late. Paul says, “Be watchful.” If you are staying up late and it’s causing you to not sleep well, which in turn causes you to not perform well at work, relate with people well, or take care of other responsibilities—DONT STAY UP LATE; go to bed earlier. If, in hanging out with a certain friend, you find yourself always being critical or negative about others—DON’T HANG OUT ALONE; bring another friend with a joyful disposition, or, after prayer, confront your friend or possibly sever the unhealthy friendship.

There is a balance between God’s Sovereignty and man’s responsibility as some know. However, we must be watchful with over-spiritualizng reality and sometimes just do the hard thing. I am not implying to do these things in sheer willpower apart from faith; what I am saying is that God wants us to be responsible and act sensibly while trusting in His future grace.

Examine yourself. Don’t play games with your life and faith in the One.

~doctrinated