Our labour is not in vain
This study is the eighth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament
(1 Corinthians – read in 31 minutes)
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV)
The letter from Paul to the Corinthian church begins with praise and moves on to rebuke them for many things that are not right in the light of the gospel he had preached to them.
He was writing to converts living in a great commercial centre in southern Greece. One writer, describing it 50 years after Paul’s time, talks of, ‘the sordidness of the rich and the misery of the poor.’ In some ways it could be seen as the perfect place to introduce a new religion – how Paul’s message might have been viewed when he began teaching in the synagogue. There were many temples, many gods and one more would be of some interest. Christian converts had a background in pagan idolatry, mysticism and religious experiences, such as speaking in tongues. Sexual promiscuity was common, often part of religious practices. Knowing this background begins to explain the problems that existed in the church that Paul set about addressing. All churches are partly a product of the society they grow in – reflecting the norms of that society – and hopefully rejecting norms that don’t match the perfect law of love Paul was preaching.
That is what he is building up to throughout the first 12 chapters, culminating in the summary in chapter 13 of the real purpose of love; what love is; how it supersedes all other considerations, even faith and hope; how it is bound up in the gospel message, and how it should be the defining factor in how they treat one another.
Paul confronts the problems of divisions, with people mattering more than God. (1 Corinthians 1:11-14). He encourages them to find routes to unity. He points them to Christ for leadership. (1 Corinthians 2:1-4).
One by one he tracks through a catalogue of situations where the Corinthians have lost sight of Jesus and the purpose of their calling, and how that calling makes them different from people around them. In every case, whether the eating of food sacrificed to idols, to how they take the Lord’s Supper, to favouring one leader over another, Paul defaults to the eternal perspective against the temporal. He reminds them of the hope of resurrection which he describes as an ‘imperishable crown’ worth suffering for. (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). He returns to the resurrection at the end of the letter to strengthen them against suggestions that it was no longer a focus of hope (1 Corinthians 15). He makes the sobering comment: ‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.’ (v.19). He looks at the long game – not short-term personal satisfaction and indulgence.
The beautiful bridging phrase at the end of Chapter 12: ‘And yet I show you a more excellent way’ launches into the well-known text – the ‘Love Chapter’. It only makes perfect sense in the context of everything that leads up to it: the selfish and self-promoting behaviour. Again, it is in the context of what is eternal. The temporary nature of their vaunted spiritual gifts is in contrast to ‘Love never fails.’ (1 Corinthians 13:8).
It is written to a specific congregation, at a specific time, for a specific purpose, to a congregation Paul felt close to and wanted to protect. Issues facing congregations today may not be the same with few obvious parallels. Whatever it is we confront as we work to live Christian lives in the society we are part of, it has the same overriding solution – we need to live with an eternal perspective, to overcome each challenge with the more perfect way of love – following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, let there be love in all that we do, in the way we treat those around us. Keep us in mind of the promised resurrection as we look to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, your Son. Amen.
Study by Maggie Mitchell
Maggie Mitchell attends the Northampton congregation of Grace Communion International and is Chair of the Pastoral Council
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB
Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email: maggie.mitchell@btinternet.com
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church