“Now
concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout
Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and
to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work
with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly
before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” -1 Thessalonians
4:9-12 (ESV) [Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12]
Paul’s
first letter to the Christians at the church he helped to found at
Thessalonica in the Province of Macedonia was written, scholars
believe, about 49-51 A. D. while Paul was on his second missionary
journey and staying at Corinth (in southern Greece, also called the
Province of Achaia). Paul and Silas had also established the church
at Thessalonica on Paul’s second missionary journey. It was a new
church when Paul was writing this letter, but it had been active in
spreading the good news of salvation to others throughout Macedonia.
Paul, not being able to go back to visit the new church himself, had
sent Timothy to fellowship with them and teach them. Timothy
returned to Paul with good news of the faithfulness of the
Thessalonian church. When Paul then wrote this letter to them, he
wrote it as a pastor to his congregation, making suggestions for a
godly manner of life. Another prominent theme in 1 Thessalonians is
the second coming of Jesus Christ. To anticipate His return to earth
and setting up His kingdom encouraged the people to live holy lives
worthy of the gospel.
In
this section of 1 Thessalonians, Paul is instructing them in a life
pleasing to God. They are to be separate and different from those
who have not experienced saving grace through faith. I think my
father, J. Marion Dyer, must have been very familiar with Paul’s
instructions to the church in Thessalonica as to how to live a godly
life. My mother passed away when I was fourteen years old, and Daddy
then had the responsibility of parenting to himself. Knowing now
from personal experience, having reared two children myself, I can
see how burdensome it must have been for him to kindly but strictly
instruct my younger brother and me without the help of our mother.
(My older sister and brother were already ‘on their own’ and away
from home when our mother died).
A
list from Paul’s Thessalonian instructions might look something
like this (and it is very much like how my dear father trained me):
1. Abstain from sexual immorality. 2. Control your own body in
holiness and honor (and this includes the kind of clothes you wear!).
3. God knows what you do, even if an earthly parent does not. 4.
God calls you to pure and holy living, and the Holy Spirit is your
prod and guide. 5. Love one another, for love is of God. 6. Live
quietly and mind your own business. 7. Work is honorable. Work
willingly and well with your own hands; whatsoever your hands find to
do, do it as unto the Lord. 8. Walk uprightly, and depend upon your
own self, not on others for what you need.
To
summarize these eight principles of Christian living, we might say:
Please God; live in holiness; love one another. We might also train
our minds and order our lifestyle by asking, “Would God be pleased
with me if I follow this action or do this particular thing?” If
there is even a slight negative thought about it, it is better to
abstain than to be sorry for poor choices and wrong actions. This is
not to stymy work or creativity, but to seek to follow God’s will
in what we say and do. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.05.2016
No comments:
Post a Comment