What does it mean to let all that you do be done with love (1 Corinthians 16:14)?

After these details the apostle gives a few pithy words of exhortation: "Watch, stand in the faith, play the man, be strong.* Let all your doings be in love." (Vers. 13, 14.) They are words eminently suited to the state of things at Corinth, besides being wholesome for all saints in all times and places. Carelessness had marked them as a company, and therefore were they now called to vigilance. They had allowed speculations to work even on foundation truths of revelation, and so they needed to cleave firmly to the deposit of faith. They had been walking after the manner of man (κατὰ ἄνθρωπον), and had shrunk from reproach and suffering, feebly dreading the world's opinions; they are urged, therefore, to quit themselves in a manly way (ἀνδρίζεσθε), and to be strong. They had need also, and above all, that whatever they did might be done lovingly. It is the final application of that which 1 Cor. 13 had opened out — the blessed energy of the divine nature, which lives and delights in the good of others; and it is the fitting preface to his next topic.

(Vv. 13, 14). The Corinthian saints were not to be dependent upon the servants of the Lord. Hence, whether the servants come, or refrain from coming, the Corinthian saints are exhorted, first, to be vigilant. An ever active adversary demands constant vigilance. Secondly, they are to stand fast in the faith. The inroads of false teaching can only be met by standing fast in the whole circle of truth. Thirdly, to watch against the adversary and stand fast in the faith demands that they quit themselves like men. Alas, many at Corinth had been acting in a carnal way, proving that spiritually they were but babes when they should have been full-grown. Fourthly, quitting themselves like men would demand that they be strong, and this means, as the Apostle says in another epistle, that they are to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). Fifthly, spiritual strength expresses itself in love; the Apostle therefore adds, “Let all things ye do be done in love” (N.Tn.). Alas, how many things may be done in connection with the assembly of God which may be perfectly right, and yet with a motive that is entirely wrong because love is lacking.

"Let all your things be done with charity" or "in love" is the apostolic word; and this directly follows the word "be strong." The tendency of the strong man of the world is to carry his firmness and strength to the point of brutality. If we quit ourselves like spiritual men and are marked by spiritual strength, we shall always act in love and be characterized by the grace that love begets. There are no exceptions to this rule, for all our things are to be done in love. We are no more at liberty to sacrifice love in the display of strength in ecclesiastic matters than in our ordinary and private affairs. This the epistle itself shows, since amongst the all things to be done in love was the excommunication of the erring brother, as directed in 1 Corinthians 5. Indeed, if comparison at all be permitted, we are less at liberty there, for in matters ecclesiastical we act, at least professedly, in the name of the Lord, that is, as His representatives.

In 1 Corinthians 16 we have a lovely and practical illustration of our subject. Verse 13 says, “Quit you like men, be strong.” Here we have one fine feature of the Christian character — that manly strength which is so desirable. But this, if taken by itself, might easily degenerate into a rough, rude, high-handed way of dealing with others, the very opposite of what we find in our divine Exemplar. Hence the Spirit in the apostle forms a loop of blue, and by means of a golden tach links on to this manly strength another feature which is so needful — love. “Let all your things be done with love.” Most precious combination! Strength and love. Love and strength. If you untie this heavenly loop you will either have a high, haughty, inconsiderate style, or a soft, pliable, enfeebled mode of acting which will sacrifice everything for peace and quietness.

Verse 14. "Let all your things be done with charity." The more excellent way is again presented to their view. It is, or should be, with the moral qualities of the believer as with the special gifts and powers of the Spirit.3 Watchfulness, steadfastness, vigour, and decision, are all subordinate to love in the thorough furnishing of one "approved in Christ." If this first and last virtue of the new man be not in habitual exercise, no others will bear acceptable fruit.

The only true love is love that will bear and do in behalf of its object. The chapter which our text concludes is one grand anthem on love. The grace which is enjoined, described, and almost sung throughout, is not a name, but a substance. Its two elements are action and suffering. The two sides of living love are meekly to bear evil, and energetically to do good, in behalf of every brother, according to his need and your opportunity. Christ's example is its rule — "Love one another as I have loved you."

Here is the test. Does the one who professes Christianity love his brother? It does not ask how much he loves him, but whether the love is there. It might be but feebly expressed but love is not hatred. There are hundreds of practical ways in which it may be expressed - in tenderness: a consoling word, a helping hand, a helping handout; or in firmness: a correcting word, a chastening hand, unflinching obedience to God's Word. The expression may be feeble but love is love. Love desires the blessing and well being of its object.

The second principle governing our conduct towards one another is love. Love will not find its pleasure in censuring, nor will it delight in causing a brother to offend or fall. Where true love is operating, no brother who thinks a thing to be wrong will be forced to do it. If he thinks it is sinful, to him it is sinful; and to force him to do it is to crush his conscience. To despise the conscience of another is not to walk in love toward him. One may indeed be within the limits of what is perfectly right, and as to which his own conscience is free and clear, yet be liable to have his good considered evil. As the servant of Christ he is not to think of what he may consider his rights, but of the benefit and blessing of his brother. Love will seek peace and edification for its objects (verses 13-23).

I can only note further, that the Lord Jesus commits to us a very sweet participation in this His service for us. (Vers. 14, 15) "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Again He gives His new commandment in verse 34: "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." If His love is the only measure of the love we are to bear to one another, He also sets us an example of the manner in which it will be in exercise. And this is solemnly important in these last days, beloved. Which of us has not witnessed with joy a drawing together of the hearts of the children of God in our common faith and blessing, such as has not been, so generally, perhaps, since Satan first sowed seeds of division in the assembly of God on earth? Old barriers of creed and ancestral religion have not been able to stand against the desire that the people of God should be together. The danger is lest Satan should prevail to mar this precious fruit of God's working among us, by intermingling the common social principle of nature, with the love to which Christ commands His people. True love has Christ for its first object, and takes in all that are His, to love, as He loved us; and it will be above all essential to it to seek to secure the joy of Christ in His people. Thus, if you truly love me, my brother, and discover in my ways or associations aught that would tend to keep me at a distance from Christ, being contrary to truth and holiness, you will never rest until you have stooped to wash me, by the ministry of some word of Christ, from the moral stain. You will have learned in sweet experience of the ways of Christ, the grace so needed for this expression of your love; and you will not be deterred by the pride that may spurn your interference, till you have led me into my place of privilege and joy. That which would consent to our each doing our own will, irrespective of Christ's, under the plea of love, has lost every characteristic of christian love.

I give you another point as I close this section. I feel that it is entirely relevant to our own position today. Have you ever heard it cried out, "let all things be done by charity". We ought to be tolerant, so we are told. 1st Corinthians 16 verse 14 says, "let all things be done with charity". Correct; but in 1st Corinthians 16 verse 13 it says, "watch you. Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong". We don't hear that side quite so frequently. Tolerance, love - yes - but faithfulness, standing by the scriptural manifestation of Christ, cost what it might, this is the divine order. It will bring suffering, but it is the pathway that He trod and God will support us in it.