1 Thessalonians 2:6-12

1 Thessalonians 2:6-12  As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.  We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.  Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.  You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,  encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

We love today's scripture passage because it reveals clearly how Christian mothers and fathers should treat their children.  Paul says he parented the Thessalonians as if they were his own children, interacting with them as a responsible Christian parent would interact with a child in a gentle and encouraging manner.  Paul says, We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children, sharing not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, as he dealt with them as a father, urging [them] to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.  Paul was describing how he viewed Christian parents, parents who provide their children with comfort when their children are in need, and urge their children to live lives worthy of God by their own godly example of working diligently for the Lord.  Christian parents who know they have received undeserved love and mercy from God willingly pass that same grace onto their children.  As parents we must continually remind one another to remain in God's kingdom of love and mercy that we might treat our children as we would want to be treated, as Paul treated the Thessalonians.  Sadly to say, we have seen parents treating their precious gifts from God harshly and roughly, demanding more from their little ones that they could give themselves.  We have watched parents publicly embarrassing and castigating their offspring for childish mistakes, weaknesses, and errancies, showing no mercy, understanding or grace.  In raising our five children we learned through experience that children thrive in a milieu of love, compassion, prayer, and godly instruction.  In an environment of judgment, criticism, and punishment, they shrivel in despair and defeat, often seeking people away from the home to bolster their self-confidence and self-esteem.  When Christian children seek comfort and support from the world, they become fair game for the devil and his clever lies.  He says, "Come on over to my side.  I will accept you as you are.  You will fit right in on my team."  When our kids lose the unconditional love and support of Christian parents, the church, and believing friends, the devil devours them, bringing turmoil, destruction and death into their lives rather than the success, the peace, and the victorious life Christ has for all who follow him.  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  (1 John 5:11-12) 

For us who do not have children, we should treat our friends, neighbors, relatives, and those with whom we have influence as a good parent treats his child.  We are not to be a burden to our friends and acquaintances; we are to be an asset and an encouragement in their lives.  Paul says, we could have been a burden to you with supporting us; we could have made our necessities center stage.  Instead, we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you without cost.   His love for the Thessalonians was preeminent in his thoughts and his actions; his personal needs took a backseat to the needs of those entrusted to his spiritual care. Good friends and dedicated parents place the needs of those they love and serve before everything else.  Nothing else is more important than taking care of those they have promised God they will love and protect.  People are to be treated as Paul treated the Thessalonians: with a gentle, encouraging spirit.  Our presence should bring comfort and peace to people rather than criticism and judgment.  A Christian home should be a sanctuary of peace and love, a comfort zone of support, where the light and love of Jesus shines brightly in every room.  When strangers come in, they should feel a different mood, a supportive spirit.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)   Christ is the necessity of the world if the world is to come out of the darkness into the light.  Without him there is no light, no peace, no sanctuary in the home.  When we express the light that Jesus has placed in us, we bring comfort and tenderness into the environment.  We bring happiness into the home; we bring sanity into the work place; we bring love into a neighborhood, stability into a friendship.  When we live IN CHRIST, He places the needs of others to the forefront in place of our needs.  Christ gives us wisdom, courage, and perseverance to answer his call and to fulfill his perfect will.  We are his ambassadors, doing his work, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Paul indicates he had significant needs, but instead of burdening the Thessalonians with those needs, he provided for himself by working night and day.  Paul offers a good example of a life well lived.  We all have responsibilities: at home, at church, in the workplace, in the community.  If we sacrifice for the furtherance of the gospel by investing in the lives others, we will impact the lives of people and make a imprint in many situations for the Lord.  On the other hand, if we live a self-satisfied, self-directed life, our contacts with others and our ability to affect lives will be diminished greatly.  Not many people will say, I am so thankful for the way you have changed my life  through your strong faith in God or I appreciate your faith in God and I would like to know more about a relationship with God because I admire your active faith.  Our priorities, values, choices, actions, and reactions say a great deal about us to our friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors.  People are watching us all the time.  We never know when someone is seeking an authentic believer, someone to trust, someone to rely upon, someone to seek out who lives a life worthy of God who would offer a gentle and loving hand of hope, concern, and acceptance to a lost soul.  You might be that person right now, today.  Who is watching you?  Who is looking for encouragement, gentleness, and comfort in your life?  Jesus loved people and when He looked at them, He saw their needs.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  (Matthew 9:36-38)  Open our eyes, Jesus.  Show us our harvest field, dear Lord.