Scripture Reading : 1 Corinthians 16
Theme : Final Exhortation
After discussing the resurrection in great details, Paul ended the letter with several exhortations in regard to giving, doing the Lord’s work, faithful living and love within the Christian fellowship.
- Giving (16:1-4). The primary purpose of giving is to support the saints, particularly the poor saints in Jerusalem. Besides meeting the economic needs of the Jerusalem believers, Paul also want the collection to express the spiritual oneness of Jews and Gentiles in the church (Rom. 15:27).
- Doing the Lord’s work (16:5-12). The work that Paul speaks of is not merely keeping busy, but dedicated spiritual service. This involves having a vision for the future (v.5), flexibility to God’s revision (v.6), thoroughness in working (v.7-8) and accepting opposition as a challenge (v.9).
- Faithful living (16:13-14). After telling the Corinthians what not to be in the earlier chapters, Paul now gave five final commands to the Corinthians on what to be: alert, firm, mature, strong and loving.
- Love within the Christian fellowship (15:50-58). Christ’s resurrection had broken the power of death for those who believe in Him, and death is no longer master over them (Rom 6:9). Though death still impacts us while we are mortal, yet we no longer need to fear death because Christ has conquered death by being raised from the dead (cf. Rev. 20:14; 21:4).
Praying the Scripture
- The Christian’s first obligation in giving is to support fellow believers through the church. Giving should not be done only when we feel generous or “as the Spirit leads”. Though Scripture here mentions giving every week, Paul is not prescribing a legalistic requirement of parceling out our money so that we can be sure to have something to put in the offering plate every Sunday. Giving is part of worship – how believers handle their money is inextricably related to the depth of their worship. Weekly worship, thus, should remind us of our continual stewardship of the possessions the Lord has entrusted us. If we do not give properly, we cannot worship properly. Let’s pray that we will be faithful in the use of money, so that we will be entrusted with true riches one day (Luke 16:10-11).
- Each of the last five commands to the Corinthians can serve as a point for reviewing the epistle. The first was to be alert, as opposed to being spiritually indifferent and listless. As the Corinthians were not alert in their spiritual walk, they allowed their previous pagan ideas and habits to invade their lives (1 Cor. 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13). The second was to be firm in the truth and not be carried about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14), as the Corinthians had tried to combine human wisdom with God’s wisdom. The third was to be mature, which is to have a sense of control, confidence and courage. Again the Corinthians were characterised by anything but maturity, as seen in their lack of love (cf. 1 Cor. 13:11). The fourth is to be strong, which is to be strengthened in our inner spiritual growth through the Lord (Eph. 6:10, 2 Tim. 2:1). Only a strong spirit can successfully battle and overcome the flesh – an area where the Corinthians were weak (1 Cor. 3:3). The last is to be loving, which complements and balances all other virtues. Let’s pray that our spiritual walk will also be characterised by these five commands.
经文：哥林多前书16
主题：最后的劝诫
详细将复活谈论一番后，保罗以劝诫的话总结了这封书信，内容包括：奉献、做的主工、忠心的生活及基督徒团契里的爱。
- 奉献（16:1-4）。奉献的主要目的是支援圣徒，尤其是耶路撒冷较穷的弟兄。除了在经济方面帮助耶路撒冷的信徒外，保罗也想通过这次的捐献表达教会里犹太人与外邦人的合一（罗15:27）。
- 做主的工（16:5-12）。保罗所说的工作并非只是为消磨时间，而是忠心的属灵侍奉。这包括对未来的展望（5节），对神可做的变化有灵活性（6节），工作要缜密（7-8节），及视反对为挑战（9节）。
- 忠心的生活（16:13-14）。保罗在前几个篇章告诫了哥林多教会不要做什么后，他现在给予他们必行的五个命令：要警醒、要站立得稳、要成熟、要刚强，及要有爱心。
- 基督徒团契中的爱（15:50-58）。基督的复活为凡信祂的人打破了死亡的权势，叫死不再做他们的主了（罗6:9）。虽然我们仍会面对肉身之死，但我们不再需要为此惊慌，因为基督已从死里复活了，从而除去死的毒钩（参：启20:14, 21:4）。
用经文祷告
- 信徒奉献的首要责任是藉着教会支援其他信徒。我们不能唯有感到慷慨，或“按圣灵的感动”时才奉献。虽然这篇经文提到每周都要捐钱，但保罗并非在规定我们要把钱分配好，使我们每周日都能做出奉献。奉献是敬拜的一部分——信徒如何处理自己的钱财，与他们敬拜的深度是息息相关的。因此，每周的敬拜当持续提醒我们自己是主的管家，要管好主所赐予自己的一切。我们若无法好好奉献，我们也不能正确地敬拜神。让我们祷告我们会在钱财的使用上忠心，叫我们有一日能领受真正的丰盛。
- 在给予哥林多教会的五个命令中，每一个都能作回顾这书信的重点。第一：要警醒，不要对属灵的事冷漠或懒散。由于哥林多教会在属灵之行不谨慎，他们容许了之前的异教想法和习惯再次涌入自己的生活（林前1,5,6,7,10,12,13）。其次：要在真理站立得住，不要被每个异教之风摇动飘来飘去（弗4:14），因为哥林多人尝试结合人与神的智慧。第三：要做成熟人，即有自制、自信和勇气的人。哥林多人就是不成熟，而他们在爱心的缺乏上便显明了这一点（参：林前13:11）。第四：要刚强，即藉着主使我们心里的力量及成长增强（弗6:10，提后2:1）；唯有一个刚强的灵才能克服、战胜肉体，而这就是哥林多信徒的弱点（林前3:3）。最后：要有爱心；这平衡并与其他品德相称。让我们祷告我们的属灵之行也会有这五个特质。
