Man Up!
Ponder: Mature Christian behavior
Scripture: “Watch ye; stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13, KJV).
If you coach boys’ sports, you have probably yelled, “Man up!” That means “act like a man – play hard, don’t give up, and don’t be wimpy!”
Paul told the Corinthian church: “Watch ye; stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Today, “quit” means stop doing something. But in older English, “quit” meant to meet the expectations of a particular job. “Quit you like men” took just one word in Paul’s language. It is the verb form of “man” (male, as opposed to female). Be a man! The ESV and NASB put it well: “Act like men.”
Paul used the training and perseverance of an athlete to illustrate the need for discipline and steadfastness as a Christian (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27). If Paul wrote today in English, he just might say, “Man up!”
Men are not always crude, blockheaded Neanderthals! Manhood has some positive traits, one of which is courage. We want a man to have some backbone. We also want him to be honorable. In addition, we expect him to behave like an adult. When a male lacks these characteristics, we say, “He’s not much of a man.”
Paul was fully justified in telling the Corinthians to act like men. They were divided, calling themselves after men (carnal and infantile, 1 Corinthians 3:1ff).
They tolerated flagrant fornication so outrageous not even the pagans in Corinth would put up with it. (Not very honorable, was it?)
They filed petty lawsuits against each other in pagan courts. (Scandalous!)
They fussed and squabbled over spiritual gifts. Self-centeredness ruled the day. Their assembly was chaotic, their worship a disgrace. Where were the men who were man enough to stand up and straighten out this mess?
It’s easy to point and say, “Bad Corinthians!” But what would Paul say to us? Are we courageous? Will we stand for truth against false doctrines and unauthorized practices? Or do we go along and get along? Do we conduct ourselves honorably? Or does the world lead us around by the nose? Are we spiritually mature? Or do we still want someone to spoon feed us with the most basic truths of the gospel?
If Paul were coaching our team, would he yell . . . . “Man up!”?
Song: “Rise up, O Men of God”
Prayer: Father, forgive us for behaving like children, and help us to mature in Christ. In His name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)