How to be steadfast and immovable

Nestled near the end of one of Paul’s longest letters, believers are commanded to be “steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work” (1 Corinthians 15:58, CSB). That sounds great, especially for men who want to become better fathers, husbands, and believers. But, like so many things, standing firm in the faith is a lot easier said than done.

So, it makes sense to figure out what Paul was saying to the Corinthians. Once we can define what it means to be steadfast and immovable, we can get a better handle on living it out in the real world.

The Context of the Past

Whenever we dig into the Scriptures, it’s important to also dig into the context of what we’re reading. We tend to see things through a 21st-century lens, but biblical writers lived in an ancient context. So, we have to understand what was happening in their world before we can apply anything to our own.

In the case of Corinth, Paul was talking about a church that had its fair share of troubles. They were pretty weak and worldly, and he spent a lot of time trying to settle petty arguments and correct bad theology. For example, 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the Bible’s best passages on Jesus’s resurrection because some in Corinth had started to question whether He really rose from the dead.

Paul provided a logical argument for the resurrection and challenged his readers to celebrate the victory it gave them through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). So, verse 58 serves as a final challenge to let the power that raised Christ from the dead equip them to stand firm on solid spiritual ground.

In this verse, Paul uses three words that deserve careful attention. First, he urged the Corinthians to be “steadfast,” which comes from the Greek word hedraios. It means being seated or being set on a solid foundation. In other ancient Greek literature, it’s been translated as “firm” and portrays security and moral determination.

The second word is “immovable,” which comes from the Greek word ametakinetos. In Greek, putting an “a” at the beginning of the word negates the word’s original meaning. So, while metakineo means “to move away,” ametakinetos means to “stay put.” It suggests being rooted in a location. Metaphorically, it means standing rock solid by refusing to give up.

The final word is “excelling” (or, in some Bible translations, “abounding”). This is derived from the Greek verb perisseuo, which means to be exceptional. It’s the idea of surpassing an expected measure or standard. In today’s terms, you could think in terms of breaking free from the ordinary.

So, when you filter these terms through the context of the resurrection, you begin to see where Paul was heading. Because Jesus lives, we have a power like no other that helps us live the supernatural life God has for us. Being steadfast and immovable are the keys to excelling (being a part of something we could never accomplish on our own) in our faith.

God longs to use us in ways we could never imagine. But we have to stand firm in Him.

Remain steadfast and immovable in the Present

Now that we know what Paul was saying 2,000 years ago, we can think about what being steadfast and immovable means for us today. Basically, God still calls us to be spiritually grounded in the power of our risen Lord. He still wants to use us, and we still need to stand firm in our faith.

So, the question shifts from “what that means” to “how it’s done.” I think there are at least five practices you can adopt—or strengthen—as a man to help you become steadfast and immovable. 

1. Immerse yourself in Scripture. The Bible talks about people who are tossed like the sea (Ephesians 4:14) and unstable in all their ways (James 1:8). That’s the opposite of steadfast and immovable. The solution is to become a student of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15). Don’t just read it; learn to apply it. Make it your moral filter for every action and decision. Let it become a part of you because that’s how you identify and avoid the errors that put you on shaky ground. 

2. Pursue integrity. Steadfast and immovable men are genuine and reliable. You don’t have to wonder if their actions match their words or if what they do in private contradicts their public image. They are consistent because they live with integrity.

3. Spend time praying. It just makes sense to stay connected to the Source who gives us the strength to remain spiritually grounded. Plus, a quick look at passages like the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) reveals that most of the spiritual tools at our disposal are defensive to repel the attacks of the enemy. But prayer is an offensive weapon for fighting back.

4. Surround yourself with solid men. I’ve heard that when the Romans marched into battle, the men stayed close together and locked their shields over their heads to protect the entire army from arrows and other flying projectiles. Maintaining your spiritual footing works the same way. As you lock arms with other trustworthy men, they help you become steadfast and immovable—and you do the same for them.

5. Focus on the future. The truth of Jesus’s resurrection means something for this life, but it also guarantees how this story will end. The circumstances that try to knock us off balance today are temporary, especially when compared to eternity. Keeping that heavenly perspective lets you see beyond the moment, which allows you to stand firm in your faith.

The Bottom Line

As guys, we’re all about excellence. We don’t want to just exceed a given standard. We usually want to blow it out of the water. And, most of the time, that’s OK. 

Paul urged the Corinthians to excel in God’s work because anything genuinely done for the Lord is never in vain. It’s never worthless. It always resonates in eternity. But to build that kind of legacy, we have to stand firm. Excellence in our spiritual lives is the byproduct of remaining steadfast and immovable.

Staying spiritually grounded now makes an everlasting difference.