1 Thessalonians 2:4-8
Have you ever known anyone who fit the definition of a
pastor/teacher that Paul is describing in these four verses. Paul is sure of his calling, he
understands that he was entrusted with the gospel, and his desire is to please
God and not men. He goes on to
state that greed and flattery were not part of his desires and in these areas
he had a clear heart before God.
He also states they were not people pleasers and discouraged people who
tried to hold them above what God and they knew to be true. They understood the demands they could
have made on the people in their office as apostles of Christ, but instead
chose to serve rather than to be served.
All of that is stated in verses 4-5, but let us look at the
actions of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy in how they approached the role of
pastor. “But
we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own
children. So, being affectionately
desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but
also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” As a man, I have little
information on the actions of a nursing mother, but Jan has told me that it can
be painful to the mother at first but that the bond between child and mother is
amazing. The baby is totally
dependent on it’s nursing mother for the nourishment of life. It seems to me almost one sided, the
mother puts the child first to make sure all of its needs are met, and the
child has no regard for the mother’s schedule, they have one thought, number
one has a problem, come take care of it.
Often we as a church play out the role of the child and not the nursing
mother. I cannot imagine anyone
who would not want a pastor to have these qualities, can you?
But these men did not stop at being caregivers; they made
sure that the good news of Jesus Christ was shared; that He was the door to
God, the peace of God, that in Christ was life and it was a life lived in the
now, not later in heaven. You may
find some who hold the role of pastor/teacher willing to do the above, but it
is rare. If you have been blessed,
as I have to have live under men, both mentors, and pastor/teachers with this
heart attitude, do not stay a nursing child. For like the nursing mother, she looks forward to the day
her child begins to eat solid food.
Have you become dear to someone, have you shared the good news of the
gospel with a friend, do they know, can they testify that you would put their
needs above your own? If so you,
learned this mystery; Christ in you is the hope of glory.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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