A prescription is a recommendation that is put forward authoritatively (we would be foolish to ignore a doctor’s prescription which gives us the medication we need to help us in our illnesses, for example.) In 1 Cor 16:13-14, Paul issues some pithy prescriptions, commands that are expressed quite tersely with a good deal of vigour: ‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.’
These imperatives or commands give us a snapshot of how we are to live. There’s a need for us to be watchful, attentive, on guard (see also Acts 20:30-31, Col 4:2, 1 Thess 5:6, Matt 24:42). Division and confusion often arise from within the church, so we have an obligation to be vigilant (Eph 5:14-20). The Corinthians seem to have been distressingly unstable in many aspects of faith; God doesn’t want us to be yo-yos, for Jesus does indeed, as the song says, give us stability! (see Col 2:6-7, Eph 3:16-17, 2 Thess 2:15) We are to grow up, to act like adults, not children (see 1 Cor 13:11), showing courage and strength in the face of adversity (see Josh 1:6-9, Eph 3:16, Ps 31:24). If we want to summarise this even further, Paul says, ‘Do everything in love.’ (1 Cor 16:14, see also Phil 2:1-4, Col 3:14, 1 Thess 1:3). Love is the one thing that should characterise us (see Jn 13:35).
God’s prescription for us, therefore, to live well is:
- Wake up & be attentive!
- Stand firm!
- Be strong! (made strong in Him… we don’t have to acquire our own strength, but can be strengthened with His!)
- Act in love!
