SUCH is the striking reading of 1 Corinthians 16:13,13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13) as given by that eminent scholar and faithful servant of the Lord: — the late Mr. William Kelly. Here it is: — “Watch, stand in the faith, play the man, be strong.” While verse 14 adds the significant words: — “Let all your doings be in love.”
The two pungent sentences are interesting, (1), because of the Epistle in which they are found, and, (2), because of the place in that Epistle in which they occur.
The expression is constantly in use and its meaning is easily understood. The boy at school, the student at College, the apprentice at work, the young fellow launching out on a professional, industrial or commercial career is exhorted to “play the man!”
It is sometimes said to a person who may appear to be lacking in courage; or whose conduct may be somewhat shady; or whose behavior may not be up to the generally accepted standard of life: — “Now—play the man!”
It would seem that the believers at Corinth had not been doing this. In the earlier chapters of this epistle there was much that the inspired writer had to correct and rebuke. Their contentions and their glorying in the flesh: chapter 1. Their infantile condition and spiritual poverty: chapter 3. Their worldly ambition: chapter 4. Their disregard of personal purity: chapter 5, 6. Their lack of consideration for others: chapter 8. Their want of intelligence as to the precious truth of the Assembly: chapters 10, 11, 14. Their allowance of those amongst them who taught bad doctrine: chapter 15 A formidable, an appalling indictment. In all these things judged by divine righteousness, as well as by the code of common morality, they had failed miserably to “play the man.” Now, as he closed his letter, the writing of which must have caused him pain, and yet we thank God for the wonderful truth embodied therein, he sought to encourage their hearts.
He urged them to “watch!” A needful injunction in that day and a salutory word in this day. How we need to watch. To watch our thoughts; our hearts; our words; our ways; our walk; our whole manner of life. We require ever to remember the words: — “Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist, steadfast in faith.” (1 Peter 5:8, 9,8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8‑9) N. Tr.) We must watch that our practice is not at variance with our profession.
The next exhortation is “stand in the faith.” The first necessity for the warrior in Eph. 6 is ability to stand. To be enabled to stand in the face of the fiercest opposition is something to be desired. That which secured for Shammah a place in King David’s roll of honor was that he knew how to stand. When the Philistines determined to commandeer a patch of lentils he stood. It appeared a trifling thing for which to contend, and evidently his brethren thought so for they deserted him, but he realized that it belonged to David; he held it for David; “he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” (2 Sam. 23:11,1211And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:11‑12).)
Similarly we are called upon to “stand in the faith.” Observe, not stand in faith, though faith is essential for it, but “stand in the faith.” “In the midst of the ground.” We are to yield not an inch to the enemy; but, even if forsaken by our fellow believers and, it may be, reproached by them, we are to “stand in the faith.” Shammah played the man in his day; Paul played the man in his day; he urged the believers in Corinth, who had failed so wretchedly just on this point, to “play the man”; and the Holy Spirit calls upon us today to “play the man.”
Shall we linger a few moments at this point and ask ourselves―are we doing so? If we keep our lips sealed when we should witness for our Lord before those with whom we have daily to associate; do we “play the man”? When we contract an unholy alliance with a person whom we know is not a true believer; do we “play the man”? When we join hands with the world from which we profess to have separated; adopt, or continue, its habits; follow its pursuits, and seek its pleasures; do we “play the man”? When we mix with the religious Societies, out of which we perhaps once thought the Lord had called us to Himself, and join in their activities; do we “play the man”? If we succumb to the chiding of those who label us “bigoted,” “narrow-minded,” “sectarian,” etc; and faint if left apparently alone, as Shammah and Paul were; do we “play the man”? Do we not feel how weak we are, and how we fail just here. To “play the man” suggests our having to contend with open opposition; with subtle tactics; with the world without, the flesh within, and the devil pulling both strings. It also indicates the need of spiritual backbone and determination which will be the outcome of deep personal devotedness to our adorable Lord.
We need to pray, and pray, that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may be enabled to “play the man” for our Lord Jesus Christ, and for all the marvelous truth that circles around His glorious person. For this we need to “Be strong.”
How frequently are we urged to be strong. When Joshua succeeded Moses he was told over and over again to “Be strong.” When Timothy was to follow Paul he received the word “Be strong.” Again we turn to Eph. 6 and hear the call “Be strong.” In each case it supposes conflict. If we are to be loyal to our absent and rejected Lord, if we are to maintain that which is due to Him; if we are to “play the man,” we must “be strong,” Conflict there most certainly will be. In this warfare there is no room for professing Christians of the “jelly-fish” order; nor for” Mr. Facing-both-ways.” The call today is for men; men who will face the foe; who will “watch”; who will “stand in the faith”; who will “play the man,” and who will” be strong,” not in themselves but “in the Lord”; not in acrimonious talk but “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
This brings us to the closing word, “Let all your doings be in love.” In our dealings with our fellow men with whom we have to associate day by day; in our rations with “all saints”; in our individual walk; in our service; let all our doings be in love. If necessary let us read 1 Cor. 13 every morning of our life before we leave our room; and again at night before we lay down to rest. Let us pray that we may be saturated with the love of that chapter; that it may permeate every fiber of our being; that it may control our every thought, and word, and deed. This will make us not careless but watchful; not weak-kneed but able to stand; not flabby but manly; not spineless but strong. In short we will become increasingly like our blessed Lord; and as with Shammah so with us; the Lord, not we, the Lord will work a great victory. His heart will be comforted, His Name will be glorified; there will be, unknown to us, fruit that shall be to His praise, and great blessing will be ours.
W. Bramwell Dick.