“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
The strength of a man can be used to hurt someone less powerful than himself. The strength of a man can be used to bully and manipulate people to get his way. Even though some might use their strength for wrong, we as men of Christ need to use our strength for His purpose.
You are a man. You have been entrusted with your family and the work of the congregation. You are on the alert to protect them. You stand firm in the faith and know the scriptures and base your decisions from the Bible. You act like men and do what needs to be done, even when it might be dangerous. As we finish our passage, we see that we must also “be strong”. I love one of the Greek definitions for this word: “increase in vigor”. Why would the inspired apostle find it necessary to add in “be strong” at the end of this verse? Could it be that God knows, that even when we follow the Biblical pattern for leading like men, there will be times where we feel weak?
Life is full of mountain highs, and valley lows. Even the strongest of leaders can find himself depressed and in wonder about if he has made the right choice to follow the Biblical pattern. There you are being the leader that you need to be, remaining on the alert, standing for the truth, acting like a man…and then it hits you. It might be pressure from the outside. It might be temptations from within. But all of a sudden you find yourself doubting. What must you do? “BE STRONG.”
With any form of exercise, one will note that there comes a time where your muscles feel as if they cannot go on. If you are a weight lifter, there will come a point when you feel that you can no longer lift a heaver weight. Yet we know that in order to strengthen those muscles, one must press on. He must endure. With a marathon runner, when your lungs feel like they are on fire, and your legs feel week, in order to complete the course, one must endure the pain.
Men, we are in a marathon. Leading like men is not a one-time action where you lay down the law for the family and the congregation and can expect it to continue with no maintenance. Problems will arise, frustrating times will happen, and it is at this time that we must push on and endure.
James 1:2-4 says: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Men, when we find ourselves in those tough times, consider it all joy! Take the opportunity as a weight lifter would push himself with a few more reps. Take the opportunity as a marathon runner views the pain as just being a bit closer to the finish line. Be strong.
If the protection of our wife, children and congregation is the number one priority in our life, then the pain and valley lows we find ourselves in should not tear us down. Increase in vigor at these moments and keep the idea of being in heaven with those entrusted to you at the forefront of your mind.
Men, lead like men! This can only happen if we remain STRONG.
Morality Check 