1 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9: For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10: You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11: just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12: so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Paul continued the account of their time with the Thessalonians. He reminded them of how hard they worked while they were there to support themselves so they would not be a burden to the Thessalonians. They worked night and day and still proclaimed the gospel to them. There could be no accusation of them using the Thessalonians for financial or personal gain, or of laziness—using others to avoid work, living a life of ease at the expense of others. Not at all.
Paul, and those with him, worked hard and suffered much to preach the gospel. Contrary to those who didn’t work, but took advantage of others and preached a watered-down gospel. Paul often warned against the false teachers and apostles in his letters—those who did not preach the true gospel and took advantage of others.
This is not to say that others didn’t give to him, for we saw that the Philippians sent supplies more than once while they were there (Philippians 4:16). Those who understand the sacrifice of the ones who preach the gospel free of charge, show a maturity and Christ-like attitude when they give toward their needs. This is what the Philippians did. Those who have been blessed by the Lord know the importance of the gospel being preached and want to help those who are preaching continue to do so.
Paul said both God and the Thessalonians were witnesses to their upright behavior during their time with them. How they were exhorting, encouraging, and imploring each one of them as a father would his own children. Once again, we see Paul with a fatherly attitude toward those under his care—preaching the gospel free of charge so they might grow up in Christ and walk worthy of the God who called them into His own kingdom and glory.
Any believer who keeps growing in Christ will get to the point where they are no longer babes who just receive all of the blessing and nourishment of the gospel without giving or sacrificing for anyone else. We all start that way. It’s not wrong. It’s necessary so we may be nurtured and grow into spiritual maturity. However, there comes a time when we reach adulthood in Christ and we find it necessary to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of God, and for others, so they may receive the saving and healing power of the Lord like we have. This is the point that all fathers desire their children to reach, and our heavenly Father desires his children as well to learn to ‘be about His business’ and do His work in the earth.
10: You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11: just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12: so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
***
Paul continued the account of their time with the Thessalonians. He reminded them of how hard they worked while they were there to support themselves so they would not be a burden to the Thessalonians. They worked night and day and still proclaimed the gospel to them. There could be no accusation of them using the Thessalonians for financial or personal gain, or of laziness—using others to avoid work, living a life of ease at the expense of others. Not at all.
Paul, and those with him, worked hard and suffered much to preach the gospel. Contrary to those who didn’t work, but took advantage of others and preached a watered-down gospel. Paul often warned against the false teachers and apostles in his letters—those who did not preach the true gospel and took advantage of others.
This is not to say that others didn’t give to him, for we saw that the Philippians sent supplies more than once while they were there (Philippians 4:16). Those who understand the sacrifice of the ones who preach the gospel free of charge, show a maturity and Christ-like attitude when they give toward their needs. This is what the Philippians did. Those who have been blessed by the Lord know the importance of the gospel being preached and want to help those who are preaching continue to do so.
Paul said both God and the Thessalonians were witnesses to their upright behavior during their time with them. How they were exhorting, encouraging, and imploring each one of them as a father would his own children. Once again, we see Paul with a fatherly attitude toward those under his care—preaching the gospel free of charge so they might grow up in Christ and walk worthy of the God who called them into His own kingdom and glory.
Any believer who keeps growing in Christ will get to the point where they are no longer babes who just receive all of the blessing and nourishment of the gospel without giving or sacrificing for anyone else. We all start that way. It’s not wrong. It’s necessary so we may be nurtured and grow into spiritual maturity. However, there comes a time when we reach adulthood in Christ and we find it necessary to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of God, and for others, so they may receive the saving and healing power of the Lord like we have. This is the point that all fathers desire their children to reach, and our heavenly Father desires his children as well to learn to ‘be about His business’ and do His work in the earth.
Comments
Post a Comment