In the first chapter of Corinthians, you’ll find these two verses, tucked in there, seemingly as a random stream of consciousness, part of Paul’s closing in his first letter to the church in Corinth:
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
This has always struck me as odd: Why did God have Paul just stick in these two verses at this point of his letter to the Corinthians? What were the Corinthians doing – or not doing – that warranted him saying this to them?
On one hand, it seems randomly inserted betwixt a concern for Apollos and Stephanas. But on the other hand, it does make sense, given that this section of the letter is titled, in some versions of the Bible, the “final instructions.”
Paul’s word choice in his “instructions” seems more fitting of an officer directing a soldier:
“The terms in this verse are all military… be continually on your guard… keep in your ranks… when you are attacked, do not flinch… summon up all your courage, sustain each other; fear not, for fear will enervate you.”
Adam Clarke (1760-1832) was an Irish Methodist theologian and biblical scholar
However, we should not underestimate the part they play in living the Christian life. In this 5-part Wisdom In All Things Special Series, we’ll unpack the implications of these two short verses from Paul, as they highlight 5 essential factors for living a life of purpose, wisdom, and impact
EXPOSE | Let all that you do be done in love
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (emphasis mine)
EXPLORE | But what is this ‘love’?
Desmond Doss was a World War II combat medic who served as a conscientious objector.
As a devout Seventh-day Adventist, Doss refused to carry a weapon due to his religious convictions but still felt called to serve his country as a medic. Despite facing ridicule and opposition from his fellow soldiers, Doss remained steadfast, demonstrating incredible bravery on the battlefield.
During the Battle of Okinawa, Doss repeatedly risked his own life to rescue wounded soldiers, dragging them to safety and administering medical aid under heavy enemy fire. His actions saved the lives of at least 75 men, earning him the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States.
Doss’s unwavering commitment to saving lives, even at great personal risk, was more than just a soldier being a good soldier. He exemplified the kind of impact sacrificial love and selflessness can have, even amid conflict and adversity.
“All the watching, all the standing fast, all the bravery, and all the strength the Corinthian Christians might show meant nothing without love. They were called to do all those things in a meek, humble spirit of love.”
– David Guzik
Matthew Henry adds to Guzik’s quote by further highlighting the important distinction our final phrase plays in the two verses we have been focusing on: Our zeal must be consistent with our love. He says, “We may defend our faith, but we must, at the same time, maintain our innocence, and not devour and destroy, and think with ourselves that the wrath of man will work the righteousness of God” (James 1:24).
The Apostle Paul is quite adamant about the role love plays. Three chapters before the verses we’re looking at, he says, that without love, we are “a resounding gong… a clanging cymbal… [we are] nothing… [and we] gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
“If we love God, at any given moment, consciously having our affection engaged with Him, and our heart going out to Him, do you think that any evil or temptation would have power over us? If you desire to be conquerors in the Christian fight, remember [that] the strongest type of human character is the gentlest and most loving, and that the mighty man is not the man of intellectual or material force, but the man who is much because he loves much.”
Alexander MacLaren
The Bible contains several verses that emphasize the importance of doing everything with love:
- Colossians 3:14 (NIV): “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV): “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
- Ephesians 5:2 (NIV): “and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
- 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV): “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
- Galatians 5:6b (NIV): “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
- Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV): “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Be watchful–in love, stand firm in the faith–in love, act like men–in love, be strong–in love. Let all that we do be done–in love. But what is this love?
M.G. Easton, in the Illustrated Bible Dictionary, highlights the exchange of Peter and Jesus in John 21 as a helpful distinction in our understanding of the word ‘love’. In verses 16-17, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, using the Greek word ‘agapas’. However, Peter answers using the Greek word ‘philo’. This is how the first and second exchanges between Jesus and Peter go, but Jesus uses Peter’s word for love the third time He asks Peter if he loves him. Easton says, “The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, “ Agapan has more of judgment and deliberate choice; philein has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection.”
The Apostle John repeatedly emphasizes that God the Father loves the Son (John 5:20, John 17:23, John 17:26) and that the Son loves the Father (John 14:31). Because the Father loves the Son, he made his will known to him, and Jesus in turn demonstrated his love to the Father through his submission and obedience.
In the greatest demonstration of His love toward us, God sends His Son into the world to rescue sinners and to provide them with eternal life: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).
Furthermore, we can’t know love, unless we know Him. 1 John 4:8 emphasizes this relational (i.e. “knowing”) aspect: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” To know someone we must have a relationship with them. If we don’t know Him, we can’t know love. Indeed, we are only able to love “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
His enabling us to love allows us to do what Jesus commands us in Matthew 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Glenn E. Schaefer breaks down this verse to elaborate on our ability to love God as we should. We are to:
“Love the Lord your God.” We are dependent on God for the ability to love Him and others (1 John 4:19). As the source of love (1 John 4:7-8), He “poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:5) and awakens a response in those who receive it.
However, our receiving His love is not without the necessary work He must do on our hearts. Schaefer highlights what is involved in the required transformation:
- “circumcision of the heart” (Deut 30:6)
- God “writing his laws” on our hearts (Jer 31:33)
- God substituting a “heart of flesh” for a “heart of stone” (Eze 11:19)
- being “born again” by the Spirit (John 3:3; 1 John 5:1-2)
- removing old clothing and replacing it with new (Col 3:12-14)
- dying to a sinful life and resurrecting to a new one (Col 3:1-4)
- moving out of darkness into light (1 John 2:9)
Without this heart transformation, we cannot love. How are we to “love the Lord our God”?
“…with all your heart.” Schaefer says that “love of God is a response of the whole of the believer’s heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut 6:5; Matt 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34) to the whole of God.” Of course, Jesus serves as our model in His obedience to the Father.
He continues, “Our love, however, is easily misdirected. Its object tends to become the creation rather than the Creator; it loses sight of the eternal for the temporal; it focuses on the self, often to the exclusion of God and others.”
“We become idolaters, focusing a part or all of our love elsewhere. We are “love breakers” more than “law breakers.””
Glenn E. Schaefer
As we love God, our love for God should flow out onto our “neighbors”:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” What we do demonstrates our love for others. We have the good Samaritan not just wishfully thinking that the guy lying in the road would be okay, instead, he does all that he can to care for him (Luke 10:30-35). If you need this point to rhyme, I commend to you a verse from DC Talk’s song called “Luv is a Verb“:
Pullin’ out my big black book
Cause when I need a word defined that’s where I look
So I move to the L’s quick, fast, in a hurry
Threw on my specs, thought my vision was blurry
I looked again but to my dismay
It was black and white with no room for grey
Ya see, a big “V” stood beyond my word
And yo that’s when it hit me, that luv is a verb
Our actions illustrate our love. The love demonstrated in the parable of the good Samaritan shows that ‘agape’ love is not emotional love, but a response to someone who is in need.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18). But in the New Testament, Jesus upped the ante by giving his disciples a new command “with a radically different motive”: “Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Once again He emphasizes the point that in order to love as we are commended, it is God alone that can enable us to do so.
Love in the Christian life, instructs us to let love guide our actions, attitudes, and relationships with God and others in this way:
- It is a motivation: Love should be the primary motivation behind all of our actions. This means acting out of genuine care, compassion, and concern for others, rather than selfish ambition or personal gain.
- We are to imitate Christ’s love: Christ is the ultimate example of love, and we are right to emulate His selfless love in our own lives. This involves sacrificially serving others, forgiving as Christ forgave, and demonstrating kindness and generosity.
- Our love should be consistent: Love should be expressed in every aspect of life. This includes not only our interactions with fellow believers but also our relationships with unbelievers and even in our daily tasks and responsibilities.
- Love in truth and integrity: Love should be expressed in conjunction with truth and integrity. This means speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and living with sincerity and honesty, even when it may be difficult or unpopular.
- Love as the unifying force: Love fosters unity within the body of Christ. When believers genuinely love one another, they are more likely to work together in harmony, support each other, and bear one another’s burdens.
- Reflect God’s love: Ultimately, the command to do everything in love reflects God’s own nature and character. As we grow in our understanding of God’s love for us, we are empowered to love others more deeply and authentically.
EXECUTE | How to “let all that we do be done in love”
Love is about living out the greatest commandments to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39) in practical, everyday ways.
As I highlighted earlier, and as John Piper and Tim Keller emphasize, our ability to love comes from experiencing God’s love for us. Keller, in particular, emphasizes that understanding the gospel – the good news of Jesus’ sacrificial love – transforms our hearts and empowers us to love others deeply.
From this foundation, we exercise ‘agape’ love, which is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. This love is not based on feelings but on a commitment to act in the best interest of others, even when it’s difficult.
To “let all that we do be done in love” both the heart and the hands – the inner motivations and the outward actions are working together.
Here are key principles we can exercise to develop “love in all that we do”:
- Cultivate a heart of love: Cultivate a heart that is aligned with God’s love. This begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who transforms our hearts and empowers us to love as He loves.
- Surrender to the Holy Spirit: Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives enables us to love others authentically. By yielding to the Spirit’s guidance and empowerment, we can overcome selfishness and grow in love.
- Practice love in relationships: Demonstrating love in our relationships with others includes showing kindness, patience, forgiveness, and selflessness in our interactions with family members, friends, colleagues, and even strangers.
- Act with love in daily tasks: Approach their daily tasks and responsibilities with a spirit of love. Whether it’s work, household chores, or volunteer activities, every action can be infused with love when done with a sincere desire to serve and bless others.
- Speak the truth in love: Love should be expressed in conjunction with truth. This means speaking honestly and respectfully, offering constructive criticism when necessary, and seeking the best interests of others in our communication.
- Choose love over self-interest: Prioritizing love over self-interest or personal agendas may involve sacrificing time, resources, or preferences for the sake of others, demonstrating Christ-like love in tangible ways.
- Remain steadfast in love: Remain steadfast in love, even in challenging circumstances or when faced with difficult people. By relying on God’s strength and grace, we can continue to extend love and grace to others, regardless of the response we receive.
It is the sum of all commandments of the Christian life… love is the victor in all the Christian warfare.
Alexander MacLaren
Letting all that we do be done in love requires a daily commitment to live out the principles of love as God’s Word prescribes, by aligning our thoughts, attitudes, and actions with the love of Christ, allowing His love to flow through us to impact the world around us.
Photo by juan pablo rodriguez on Unsplash