Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:3–8
3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 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. 8 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. (NRSVUE)
Observation:
Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica. He is reflecting on the ministry that he, Silas, and Timothy had among them. He notes the source from which their ministry sprang, and it wasn’t from selfish human motives or desires. Instead, from within them welled up the desire to share the gospel, and this was to please God.
Now he begins to talk about the motivation for sharing this good news. They weren’t itinerant preachers out to make money from the people. Paul wasn’t trying to become the most popular preacher on a circuit. It was never their intention to use their relationship with these believers for their own personal gain.
Their relationship with the people in Thessalonica went far beyond that of a simple teacher and student. It had grown into a very special bond, a relationship as close as that of a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own child. What had started in Paul’s heart was flowing out to those to whom he was ministering, transforming their lives and their relationships. The result was that these people had become very dear to him.
Application:
My parents modeled this kind of love for the people they served. I was born in Germany, where my parents were serving as missionaries. While I was just a young girl, I still remember the day we left. We were in the Frankfurt airport, and I was clutching my doll. The people from the church had come to see us off.
There were people there whom my parents had led to Christ.
Lives had been transformed. Churches had been started. People had heard the good news of Jesus Christ. But they had also become like family. In the crowd was Omi—German for grandma—who had helped to raise Kurt. And then there was Frau Kuhne, who had been my German grandma and had cared so lovingly for me. These weren’t just parishioners; this was family. Why? Because my parents had given their own selves to these people.
And there we were, in the airport, as our dear ones sang, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.” I felt like my heart was being torn out of my chest because my parents had taught us how to care deeply for those with whom we minister.
Just a little over a week ago, I was back in Germany. The remarkable thing is that so many years later, even after the passing of my parents, these people remain very dear to us. Some of them are the children of those who were there in the airport in Frankfurt, and yet the relationship has continued.
The source for Paul, and the source for my parents, was the spring of the Holy Spirit bubbling up inside them with holy love. The spring is real and genuine, and people can tell.
For anyone engaged in ministry, or on the receiving end of ministry, don’t try to do all of this on your own. We are very dear to the Lord, and He wants to give us the gift of the fullness of His Spirit. Receive the gift, and then share it with the world. It will transform your heart and your motivations and help you tenderly love the world into which you have been sent.
Prayer:
Lord, I’m so grateful for parents who were a living example to me. Please help me to stay in Your stream and minister the way You would desire. Help me to gather dear ones for Your glory. Amen.
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