Continuing our study of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 2:5-8
As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
Thought for the Day: It is hard to be church. And from the perspective of a pastor, it is hard to hold a church together. As you can imagine, there are multiple opinions on how to do just about everything. There are hidden agendas, and at times, there is what can only be called bad behavior. It is these last two — hidden agendas and bad behavior — that often leave others in the church a bit suspicious, even distrustful. It appears that Paul encountered some skepticism among the Thessalonians, and though I have no direct proof, I am guessing this cautious cynicism had its roots in an experience where hidden agendas or bad behavior left the community wounded. In this First Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul appears to have recognized some uncertainty among his audience. He responded by outright denying any sort of underlying itinerary, pointing out how he had never played manipulative games. For Paul and his colleagues, their only agenda was to share the “Gospel of God,” and to do so, they had chosen to share themselves.
The word share in this passage is how the original Greek word, Metadidomi, is translated. This is a word that is not often used in the New Testament, and it carries with it a true sense of sacrifice. It is the word we find in two other passages:
Luke 3:11
In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”
Ephesians 4:28
Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.
In using this word, Paul was speaking about a genuine sharing of oneself. In contrast to those who had hidden agendas and probably gave only as much as they needed to get their way, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were willing to give themselves fully away. This was necessary for those trying to share the Gospel (Good News) of God’s unmerited love while also trying to counter some self-serving message that others had offered.
How does the church stay on point and not become distracted or embroiled in all kinds of other issues? If it is genuine and has as its ultimate goal the Gospel of God’s love for the world, then it is best revealed through the lives of those who are willing to give fully of themselves. Where have you witnessed this kind of sharing? What does it stir within you?
Prayer: As you gave so graciously of yourself, O Loving Lord, may I be willing to lay it on the line for the sake of communicating your Gospel. Amen.
Don’t Forget
Adult Education Fair
This Sunday
