How concerned are you about your brethren’s spiritual wellbeing? Too often we allow the world and all the busyness of our lives to prevent us from truly caring for our brothers and sisters and building the kind of relationship that God desires for us to have with each other. Let us consider the example of Paul and try to emulate the genuine love and concern that he had for his brethren and their spiritual wellbeing.
On his second missionary journey, Paul traveled to Thessalonica and established the church in that city. But, all too soon, he was “torn away” from his brethren (1 Thess. 2:17, ESV), and Satan thwarted his efforts to return. Nevertheless, Paul’s heart would not and could not forget his brethren. He remained deeply concerned for their spiritual health and faithfulness. Look into his heart:
“We…endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire” (1 Thess. 2:17).
“We wanted to come to you…time and again” (2:18).
“For you are our glory and joy” (2:20).
“When we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy” (3:1-2).
“When I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith” (3:5).
Paul had such an overwhelming love for his brethren and carried such a tremendous sense of responsibility for their faithfulness to God that twice he stated he could no longer endure not knowing of their wellbeing. Could that possibly depict your love for your brethren?
Notice what his love and concern prompted this Christian to do. He knew children of God needed to be “established” in the faith (1 Thess. 3:2), especially babes in Christ. We need to help our brethren be strengthened (literally “fixed”) securely in the faith. Paul knew his brethren needed to be “encouraged” in the faith (3:2). We need to help our brethren to be cheered up, comforted and to take heart in their faith and in the faith.
Paul did not want his brethren to “be shaken by these afflictions” (3:3), to be disturbed and moved by the sufferings they endured. He was truly concerned, “lest by some means the tempter had tempted” them (3:5).
Reflect on this question again: how concerned are you about your brethren’s spiritual wellbeing? What are you doing to establish and encourage them in the faith?