We all have certain people we care deeply for, and we would do almost anything to help them. I would die for my family. I will go out of my way to prepare a meal for someone in distress or in need. I will visit and share Christ with those who are unsaved. However, each of these situations, except the first one which is for my family, requires very little of my time or money, Yet we seem to justify ourselves as doing our part of loving others or being a servant by doing little tokens of good deeds here and there. We put limits on our service, we keep a record of what we have done, and appease our conscience. This type of service is not love for others; it is love for self. It is not the kind of love that Paul talks about in I Thessalonians 2:7-12. The kind of love that Paul and his companions showed to others was a selfless, serving kind of love. Their care for the brethren demonstrated the way we should care for others also.
In verse 7 Paul tells the believers at Thessalonica that he cared for them as a nurse that cherishes her children. Though Paul could have spoken as one who had authority, he spoke with tenderness and kindness to them. He practiced what he preached in II Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,” He tenderly corrected them in love. He did not treat them as a dictator but as a loving disciple of Jesus.
I Thessalonians 2:7 “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:”
Paul was also willing to risk his own health to meet their needs. Paul cared so much he took no thought about the hazards he would encounter trying to minister to them. His desire was to see them grow in their faith and he was willing to lay down his life for them as Jesus taught in John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” When you are willing to give your own life for the salvation of others, you have demonstrated the true love of Christ for others.
I Thessalonians 2:8 “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.”
Not only did he treat them tenderly with love, risk his own health for them, he also physically labored night and day to cover his own expenses. Paul was leaving no doubt to anyone that they were not preaching for money. It was probably as a tentmaker because in Acts 18:3 it is noted as his trade. He did not neglect an opportunity to preach but used the rest of his time to earn his keep. It would have been permissible to take wages for ministering to them, but he did not want to be a burden to them.
I Thessalonians 2:9 “For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”
He cared so much for them that he would not do anything that would bring reproach to his testimony. He did not want to be a stumbling block to their growth in Christ. He lived a life above reproach, thinking before acting considering how situations would affect his testimony. He also exhorted and challenged each one of them to live in a manner that would give honor to God and be a witness for Jesus Christ. In verse 11, he treated them as a good father would his own children.
I Thessalonians 2:10-11 “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.”
Paul gives us the example of how we should act and care for other believers. I can only imagine how many more people would be attracted to Jesus if we all took this admonition and lived our lives accordingly; if we would treat believers tenderly as we helped them to learn and live a holy life; if we would forget our own comforts and even risk our health to further the gospel and work hard to take care of ourselves so as not to be a burden on anyone else; if we would live our lives thinking before we act to determine if our actions could be misconstrued or be a reproach on the gospel. If this were the way we lived our lives, we could say as Paul did to the Thessalonians to “walk worthy of God!”
As with any change, we must examine ourselves and take note of areas we need to surrender to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Are you seeking to care for the spiritual and physical needs of others? What limits have you set for yourself? If the word of God doesn’t change you, it is of no value to you. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can do anything that God requires of you.
I Thessalonians 2:12 “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”
