Young People’s Blog

“Ye know the household of Stephanas…and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15).

You all know that in a general way, it is not good to be addicted to anything. Many people are addicted to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, and they cannot get free of them. But here in our verse today is an addiction that is good for us to have. Here was a household that was addicted to serving their fellow believers.

To be addicted to something means that we cannot stay away from it. The compulsion is so strong that we are continually going back to it. In natural things this is bad, but in this case, it was a good thing. To serve others is a wonderful way to honor the Lord, and here was a household that was continually serving fellow believers. They were evidently one of the early families to be saved in the region of Achaia, which was an area composed of nearly all of Greece. The Word of God takes special note of them. They are a good example for us.

“Watch you, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

The Corinthians were generally an intelligent and gifted group of believers, yet the Apostle Paul spoke to them as if they were really babies in Christ. Earlier in this same book, Paul tells them that they were acting like spiritual babies. They were not using their gifts and their knowledge in the right way, for they were using their spiritual gifts to “show off.” They were proud of their knowledge, and instead of using their gifts for the Lord, they were using them to make themselves look good.

At the end of the epistle, Paul reminds them to “quit you like men.” That means, in simple terms, to “grow up,” and to act in a mature way. A mature Christian uses what he or she has for the Lord’s glory, and not simply to show off, so that other people can see it.

Even though we are young, we can act in a mature way. This does not mean that we try to act as if we were forty, when we are only twenty. It simply means that we act for the Lord’s glory, and for the blessing of others, rather than trying to get people to look at us, and be impressed with us.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

In the Old Testament, the Jews had to give a tenth of their income to the Lord, but we have no such rule in Christianity. It is left up to our hearts, to give what we wish. However, let us ask ourselves, “Would we give the Lord less under Christianity than they were compelled to give under the law?”

The real answer to the question, “How much shall we give?” is found in our second verse. What kind of gift did God give us? He gave His Son! We cannot put a value on what it meant to God to give His Son to die for us. When we consider how much God gave in order that we might be saved, then surely it will touch our hearts to give generously. It is our appreciation of Christ that will make us want to give as much as we are able, for the Lord’s work, and the benefit of others.

“Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

At other times in this calendar, we have emphasized the importance of remembering what the Lord Jesus did for us on Calvary’s cross. How important it is for us to give Him the honor, praise, and thanksgiving, of which He is so worthy!

However, as we see today, there is another sacrifice that is also important. The Lord values what we give in the way of money, and that is why a collection box is passed around after we remember the Lord. Today’s verse encourages us to put aside something from what we have gotten during the week, to give to the Lord. That money can be used to help those who are poor, and also to support the work of the Lord. Our second verse today says that God is “well pleased” with such sacrifices. Do you set aside something from what you have earned during the week, to give to the Lord?

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

As Christians, you and I can be thankful that we do not have the outlook of those in this world. Yes, we can enjoy good food when the Lord gives it to us, but we do not take on the attitude of this world—just enjoying all the pleasure we can, because we might die at any moment.

No, God has assured us that He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ has won the victory over death for us, and we do not have to fear death. On the other hand, anything we suffer for Christ down here will be richly rewarded. It is well worthwhile to give up the “pleasures of sin,” since they are only “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). But what is done for the Lord will abide forever.

“Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

This is the attitude of many unbelievers in this world today, as they see the world situation getting worse and worse, and with no hope that it will improve. As I write this in June, 2024, Russia is fighting in the Ukraine, and threatening Europe. China is threatening to invade Taiwan. Israel is fighting in Gaza, vowing to eliminate the Hamas organization. Many people are taking sides, some supporting Hamas, others supporting the Jews. Hunger, economic instability, weak governments, and other factors are making men’s hearts “fail them for fear”—see Luke 21:26. Many feel that a nuclear war could easily start.

As a result of all this, some are just enjoying the moment, and having as much fun as they can, for they realize that they could die at any time. But we, as believers, have a better hope, and one that is sure.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Do you understand what the Apostle Paul is saying in this verse? He is pointing out that we, as Christians, are called to give up everything in this world in order to follow a rejected Christ. We do not, in that sense, enjoy the pleasures of this world, for we are not part of the world system that is under Satan’s control. But if there is nothing beyond this life—no resurrection from the dead, then we have given up everything in this world for nothing. If there is no resurrection, then there will be no reward for faithfulness to Christ.

But thank God, as Paul points out, Christ has risen from the dead, and many had witnessed to it. Many had seen Him after He rose from the dead. Because of His resurrection, any who have died in Christ will also rise when the Lord comes. What wonderful power will be displayed then; millions of believers from all ages suddenly rising from the dead, and being given glorified bodies! It will be an amazing display of God’s power, and it will all happen in “the twinkling of an eye!”

“For now we see through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12 JND).

Have you ever tried to look at something through a very dirty window? Or perhaps tried to look through a window that had some glaze or frosting on it, so that you could not see clearly? We are used to looking through clear glass, but sometimes the glass is not as clear as we would like. If you wear glasses, have you ever tried to look at something when your glasses needed cleaning?

God uses this comparison to explain to us what we see now in spiritual things, compared to what we will be able to understand when we are taken home to be with the Lord. We are hindered now by the limitations of our bodies, by the presence of our old sinful nature, and by being surrounded by a sinful world. In that day we will have glorified bodies, and will have perfect understanding. What a day that will be!

“Love…does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4,7 JND).

Here is a quality of true divine love that we sometimes forget. True love does not go along with wrongdoing, just to keep the peace and prevent any trouble. No, divine love rejoices with the truth. I have heard some people say, “Family sticks together,” as if family members should always defend one another, even if they are in the wrong. But the Bible never tells us to do that, for that is not true love.

We can be very thankful that the Lord loved us when we were sinners, and guilty before God. But now, when we are saved, He expects us to display that new life that He has given us in Christ. He loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way. He wants us to become more like Christ.

“Love…bears all things…endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4,7 JND).

As we read through this 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, perhaps we enjoy thinking of those who display some of these characteristics. We greatly appreciate seeing some of these things in others. But there was only One who displayed them all perfectly. The Lord Jesus was the only One who perfectly displayed divine love.

This was especially true when He went to the cross, for it was there that He bore all things and endured all things. Yes, He endured many bad things in His lifetime, but on the cross, during those three hours of darkness, He bore the judgment of God for sin. Truly He bore all things, and endured all things. How thankful we should be for that divine love—a love that kept Him on that cross until all the judgment was exhausted.

Love that no tongue can teach,
Love that no thought can reach,
No love like His.
God is its blessed source,
Death ne’er can stop its course,
Nothing can stay its force;
Matchless it is.