1 Thessalonians 3:1-5
“Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you, yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.“
As we study today’s passage in 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5, verses 3b-5 become very comforting for all believers in Christ. Sometimes, and we all may agree at times, hearing the truth may hurt. But fear not! knowing the truth is a better pill to swallow than being knocked down with a sugar-coated lie This problem existed in the first century, which caused the Apostle Paul to write his epistles to the churches; he need to clarify and present the truth, God’s holy Word is truth! Sadly to say, however, this problem has infiltrated and polluted many churches today in the twenty-first century. As a result, there are many self-proclaimed preachers, who have hidden the truth of God’s Word to make it more appealing to the natural man. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” It was Jesus Christ in His Sermon on the Mount who gave us His promise in Matthew 5:11-12, ‘“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’ It is a fact, Christians will be persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. The message was not popular in Jesus’ time as noted by the religious leaders who opposed Him. And it is not popular today!
The Apostle Paul was with the Thessalonian church for a very short time before he was torn away from them. Nevertheless, Paul was able to teach and disciple them as much as he could. In particular, he taught them the words of Christ. He repeated Christ’s warning to them that they will be falsely accused, reviled, and persecuted on His account. In this letter, Paul is reminding them of what he had already said, ‘You will be persecuted!’
A point must be made about Paul in this address. Paul, as an apostle of Jesus Christ and as the spiritual father of these new believers in Thessalonica, feels responsible for their well-being. Therefore, he writes to them because he fears their faith may waver when tempted. This would cause his labor to be in vain. Additionally, this is the reason why Paul was sending Timothy to them, to build up and exhort them in the faith (verse 3:2). We also need to be accountable and responsible to others in the faith.
There is an application for us in this passage that we must take to heart. Jesus Christ gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, when he said, ‘And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”’ The four basic commands of Jesus are to go, make disciples, baptize them, and teach them. Paul had a responsibility to not just go to the uttermost parts of the world, but to go and make disciples. This is important for us today. As mentioned above, we also have a responsibility to those in the faith. Those who are young and weak in their faith must be taught. Those who are more mature in their faith and gifted by the Holy Spirit must teach! We all have spiritual gifts according to the Spirit, we must exercise and develop these gifts by serving others. Our gifts are for the building up of the body of Christ into maturity so Christ may be evident in all for all to see. Therefore, in all things, may Jesus Christ be praised
In verse 5 of this passage, the Apostle Paul again declares his emotional state of mind to this wonderful church of Jesus Christ in Thessalonica. Paul said, ‘For this reason, when I could bear it no longer.” It’s truly amazing that Paul is being genuine and authentic in this declaration. In our society today, it seems to be taboo for one to be self-revealing when sharing intimate feelings with another Christian. For example, Christians are commanded to love one another. This is not romantic love, nor is it a divine unconditional love. Jesus Christ is telling his followers to have a genuine brotherly love for each other; and by this, others will know they are children of God. However, for some reason, instead of stating, “I love you, brother or sister,” the Christian feels they must preface the comment by saying, “I love you ‘in Christ’, my brother or sister” and that makes the expression of love okay. For us today in our application of what the Apostle Paul is conveying, we must be obedient to the commandment of Jesus Christ as stated in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”