Principles for Living

Introduction

A. Growing up is hard. As a child, life is fairly simple. We worry about play, eating, and sleeping. Few things interrupt us. Such as it should be. Then we enter school and things get a bit more difficult. And as we progress through school we discover that there are a lot of things to learn. In fact, moms and dads can’t tell us everything we need to know. Some things have to be learned by experience. These lessons are often the hardest to learn and yet last the longest. What we find, too, is that as we grow older we find it harder to listen to others. We think we have things figured out; we believe that our background of experiences is enough to make wise and mature decisions. The real mark of maturity is the willingness to listen to others who are older and wiser. Rare indeed is such a quality found.

B. Maybe you had the privilege of having a mentor. Someone who took you under wing and helped you learn something about life. Perhaps it was your father, mother, or other significant adult. I have had several mentors at different stages in my life. Each one played a significant role at the time. Someone who would give a wise thought or saying to hang on to. Who was your spiritual mentor? Who was it that helped you know more about God and his will? Who was it that demonstrated by conduct and words how to live before God? For many of us parents played a role, but for some of us we learned more about God from others. Perhaps that person sat down with us and helped us to think about the direction of life and our conduct and how we should think. This seems to be what Paul is doing in our text. In 5:12-28 he gives a whole list of things to think and do. These new Christians have a mentor in the apostle Paul. He gives a list of things which will assist them in their walk with God. While each one seems to stand on its own, there is some connection between them. As we go through this list this morning, we will revisit some obvious instructions, but we will also find instructions for living for God. The wise will listen.

Personal Relationships

A. Different writers take different points of view on this text. Dividing the text in easily managed parts is difficult. Verses 12-15 seem to deal with personal relationships. Is there a problem in Thessalonica which requires Paul to give these instructions? Probably. We do know that there is a misunderstanding about Christ’s return which has caused some to give up working in anticipation of Christ’s return. Paul’s mentioning of learning to love each other more and more signals that there might have been some minor discord. There may have also been some ill feelings toward spiritual leaders who were trying to correct these problems. While there may not be major problems, Paul doesn’t want any difficulties to become an obstacle in their walk with God.

B. Verses 12-13, Paul tells the Thessalonians to respect their leaders. These leaders are provided for three purposes. They work hard, they oversee, and they admonish. Each of these purposes are in verb form which means that these are active things. While Thessalonica probably did not have elders at this point they had leaders. These words could aptly be used to endorse elders. Leaders are to work hard. Leading a group of people is not easy. It takes dedication to the people. Leaders oversee or care for. The word used here has as its basic meaning to care for and protect. Leaders care for and protect us. Leaders admonish. There are times when leaders have to urge us to live right. Such dedication to us demands our respect and highest regard. Because of what leaders are trying to do among us we respect them. We are blessed with four elders also a number of solid leaders. As they work among us we are to respect them, not for their position but for their work among us.

C. Verses 14-15 apply to how we treat each other.

i. Among us we are to warn the idle. This refers to those who had quit working in anticipation of Christ’s return.

ii. Encourage the timid and help the weak. We are not given insight into who Paul specifically has in mind. Both phrases are very similar in meaning and purpose. Paul means that there are some who are beaten down by the stresses of the world. Some find it difficult to be courageous. They are fearful about what is going on around them. We do know persecution was part of the Thessalonian church. Paul then is saying that weak need to be made a part of things and have a sense of belonging.

iii. Be patient with everyone. We are not all the same. We need to learn to appreciate our differences and the best way to do that is to learn to be patient. Be slow to react. Make sure that evil doesn’t lead to more evil instead be kind to each other. Treat each other with kindness.

iv. Paul is not unaware of problems. He is focusing though on leadership and how we treat each other. Respect for those who try to lead is essential. And then respect for each other is imperative.

Relating to God

A. Verses 16-22 pertain to how we interact with God and yet they are not completely separate from what precedes. Be joyful always. Joy is not something which can be turned off and on. Joy comes from the Spirit’s work within us (Galatians 5:22). Paul has already mentioned their joy in 1:6. It is best to take this to mean “rejoice even in the face of suffering.” This means that joy is beyond circumstances. Joy focuses on our relationship with God even though things may be falling apart around us. Pray continually. Again this is not an isolated instruction. Continually pray despite circumstances. As verse 18 continues, we are to give thanks no matter the circumstance. Connecting with God when things are not going well helps us to maintain our focus on who God is.

B. Verses 19-22 are bit more difficult primarily because we have used them in isolation rather than as a group. Miraculous manifestation of the Spirit’s presence was vital to the early church. The Spirit’s power confirmed the message to the believer and helped to bring the unbeliever to faith (1 Cor. 14:22; Heb. 2:4). Miracles were a testimony of God’s presence. Paul seems to be telling the Thessalonians to not douse the flame of the Spirit’s power. Particularly when it comes to prophecy. In those days without compiled scriptures, the words of apostles or prophets were necessary to confirm the will of God. Some in the early church were given by God the power to prophecy—that is to speak for God because God had given him or her something to say. In this text, Paul is saying that he wants the Thessalonians to quit treating prophetic messages with contempt. They need to test the prophecy. If it is accurate hold on to it. If it is inaccurate the avoid it and the person who spoke it. This seems foreign to us because we do not have prophetic utterances today. With the completed scriptures there is no need for the miraculous utterance of God’s will. He has revealed what we need to know. Verses 21 and 22 do not have to do with ethical behavior but with prophetic messages. Notice verse 27 Paul’s insistence that this letter be read to the entire group. One of the reasons would include his prophetic message needed to be heard by all.

So what?

A. This last section is filled with good instructions which will help us in our relationships with each other and with God. But there are two things which I want to stress. First, Notice this: As leaders admonish us, we have the responsibility to warn each other. Don’t read over this section without realizing the connection we have with each other. We are interrelated. We are not isolated. We should welcome the words of warning as well as encouragement. We should appreciate the work of our leaders and welcome them to be involved in our lives. Our culture has stressed individualism. This has made its way into our lives. We are related by the blood of Jesus. We belong to each other. We are important to each other. We would be wise to recognize the role that we play in each other’s lives and highlight that role and appreciatively accept words and actions which both encourage and admonish. We would be wise to listen to those who have more experience and allow them to mentor us to become more what God would want us to be. But at the same time, this text says that we have a responsibility to speak to others. This walk with each other is not about who gets ahead, but so that each of us can be together as we walk with God.

B. Second, our relationship with God is not based on current circumstances. Be joyful, pray, give thanks, test prophecies. This new group of Christians were being told to keep their eyes on God rather than their circumstances. Life has not been easy for them. The gospel while bringing salvation has also brought with it suffering. Paul is encouraging them to keep their eyes on God and what he is doing for them rather than looking at their surroundings. Certainly the Thessalonians felt the sting of words said, being cut off from their peers, and threats and physical blows. But God’s presence was stronger than the suffering. Joy in the midst of suffering is only possible in the Lord. Prayer continues because God is near. Giving thanks when things are not going well occurs because we know God has not left us alone. We keep our eyes focused on God who will in his time bring an end to suffering and joy everlasting when he comes to get those who belong to him. Let’s encourage each other. Let’s keep our eyes on God. Invitation.

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