A Systematic Expository Study of the Word of God

Study 8: MUTUAL AFFECTION IN A MODEL CHURCH

1 Thessalonians 2:7-9

In the latter part of 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul briefly alluded to the righteous, pure and holy character of the ministers (himself and the others) while they were at Thessalonica. “As ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Now in the second chapter he gives a more thorough review of their ministry, motives, message, methods and manner of life. Our character is far more important than anything we say or do in the ministry. In spiritual service the character of the worker or preacher decides the quality of his work. Our unconscious influence speaks more loudly and effectively than our conscious influence. A Christian’s or a minister’s character is the whole capital he has for carrying on an eternally profitable business. A minister or Christian who has lost his character has lost everything. Nine times over in this first epistle, Paul says, “ye know” (1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2:1; 2:2; 2:5; 2:11; 3:3; 3:4; 4:2; 5:2), referring to the Thessalonians’ firsthand observation of their private as well as public life. The lifestyle of the ministers revealed spiritual virtues and qualities worthy of emulation by members of the church. The ministers were courageous; they preached the saving, sanctifying gospel message fearlessly despite great opposition. There was no clever plot to deceive anyone within or outside the church. Their responsibility was to please God by the faithful proclamation of the divinely revealed message, no matter what man’s reaction might be.

MINISTERIAL AFFECTION FOR A MODEL CHURCH

1 Thessalonians 2:7,8; Isaiah 40:9-11; Matthew 11:29,30; Philippians 1:8-11; 2:25,26,29,30; 2 Corinthians 12:14,15; 1 John 3:16; Philippians 4:1.

“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” Paul and his companions in ministry were gentle, tender and loving among the Thessalonians as a nursing mother caring for her own children. The new converts had need of being fed with the wholesome bread of life, being counseled and directed in the way of righteousness, being taught to walk on the highway of holiness, preserved from stumbling and led in the right path, the good way. Paul and the ministers carried on this ministry with the pure and sacrificial love of a devoted mother.    As a mother cares and nurtures her children without seeking praise or recognition, so Paul fed, nursed, cherished, taught, led and discipled the believers without seeking material gain. Like a mother nursing her children with all sincerity and selfless labour of love, Paul did all things in transparent and transcending love. He never stooped to any degrading method of flattery or insincerity in order to achieve results. His words were honest and truthful, and his motives were free from hypocrisy. Preachers may sometimes be tempted to hold back the full truth for fear of repercussion from those who contribute to their support, but God is the Judge and He knows when the message is watered down or suppressed to nurse the weakness or wickedness of the minister rather than the welfare of God’s children.

MEMBERSHIP ALLEGIANCE IN A MATURING CONGREGATION

1 Thessalonians 2:7,8; 1:6-8; 2:13,14; 3:6-9; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Romans 16:3,4,19; Galatians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-4.

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.” The words used here by the Apostle are expressive of the strongest affection and attachment. This deep affection and attachment between the minister and members is similar to that between the mother and her children. The Apostle was willing to preach the gospel to them at any cost, even at the cost of laying down his life, if need be. “Neither count I my life dear unto myself… to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul was so strongly attached to the converts that he would have been willing to lay down his life for them, “because ye were dear unto us.” The Thessalonians also felt the same affection and attachment to Paul and the ministers. Paul and the ministers were also dear to the Thessalonians. “Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you” (1 Thessalonians 3:6). Their love for Paul was not superficial or sentimental; it was pure and holy. It was demonstrated in holy living and consecrated service. “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord.” “When ye received the word of God which ye hard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God.”

MAIN ACTIVITY WITH THE MASTER’S COMMITMENT

1 Thessalonians 2:9; Psalm 40:7-9; Mark 1:36-39; Acts 5:40-42; 8:4,5,25,35,40; Matthew 24:11-14; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Luke 19:10-13.

The Apostle Paul was a model minister as well as a model Christian. “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail; for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9).“Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:8). “Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me” (Acts 20:34). “And because he (Paul) was of the same craft, he abode with them (Aquila and Priscilla), and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:3). Though Paul sometimes laboured, travailed, wrought and toiled to meet his material needs, he still “laboured more abundantly than” all the other Apostles (1 Corinthians 15:10). He was busy in both secular and sacred work and was not disposed to live in idleness. And he did not seek to make himself rich at the expense of others. Working as a tentmaker in order to earn a living so that he could minister to the people without being a burden to any of them, he has left a good example and model for Christians in this dispensation. A true minister of Christ will continue to preach the gospel whether he receives money for it or has to work to finance himself.

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