1 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
Some have paraphrased Scripture by saying, ‘When God calls He equips.” Others have said, “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.” We see this in Scripture. Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Moses presented his objections to the LORD when he was being called to service in Exodus 4:10-11, which says, “But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” Last but not least, is the testimony of the Apostle Paul, who quite humbly says in Galatians 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Yes, when God calls us to service, we do not have to worry about being inadequate like Moses did, for God knows what He is doing. Instead, we can be humble, yet confident, that God himself will equip us for the task He has ordained. So when the church asks you to do something for them in a particular ministry, we must pray, of course. If God is speaking to our hearts and there is a yearning tugging on us to serve, then we must commit ourselves to serving the Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. This is God’s ministry and God will equip us for service. Our responsibility is to pray and be resolved to obey. “Trust and obey, for there is no other way! to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”
In today’s passage, the Apostle begins by reminding the church in Thessalonica how he came and served them. First, we see that Paul developed a familiar, loving, and intimate relationship with each and every one of them. He lovingly called them ‘brothers’ in verse 9. We know as a child that God loves the world and gave His one and only Son (John 3:16). Jesus Christ taught his disciples this very thing in John 13:34, when he said, “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.” It is shameful when Christians are divisive among believers in the assembly of the church, whether it be at church, at work, in the neighborhood, or even on social media platforms on the internet. Even so, those who are called to God’s service in the church must demonstrate their love to God and to others in all they do. The prerequisite is to love as Jesus has love! Love the people you serve!
Paul also reminds them how hard he worked so he would not be a burden to anyone. In Acts 18:1-4, Luke, the writer of Acts, describes Paul meeting with Aquilla and Priscilla in Corinth, who are Jews from Italy. Paul stays and works with them because he also is a tentmaker by trade. Paul did this so as not to be a burden to the church. In the same way here in Thessalonica, Paul is reminding the church how he did not want to be a burden to them as well. Therefore, he worked very hard to provide for his stay. He toiled and labored, from day to night. In the same way, servants of God must not be a detriment to the church, but a blessing. Ministry and service are not directed inwardly to appease our sense of well-being. Instead, we serve to please God; and we serve because we love people. There are other ways a person can be a burden to others than just being supported financially. One can be a burden when they are not equipped for the task. As said above, God equips the called. But like the Apostle Paul, he spent thirteen years in the desert to be taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. A pastor sacrifices and goes to seminary and works very hard to prepare himself for God’s service. Therefore, even though God equips the called, there is a responsibility for the called to toil and labor in his or her preparation. One can also be a burden when not teaching according to Scripture. God holds his servants accountable for how they present Him and His word. Woe to those who do not truthfully present the Word of God.
It is also important to note what Paul is saying in this context. He does not want to be a burden to others ‘while proclaiming the gospel of God’ to them. This is important! Paul works hard to not be a burden. He also works hard to develop a loving intimate relationships with the church members he serves. And he does this intentionally with one sole purpose: to proclaim the gospel of God. And as a minister and servant of God, like one who is scattering precious seeds into fertile soil, Paul wants the church to receive the gospel of Christ! What greater service and greater joy could one have than to be doing what God has prepared them for?