WHAT CONCERNED PAUL THE MOST
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NLT
3 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God's co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
Something was on Paul's heart regarding the believers at Thessalonica. He knew they were facing some difficult times. They were experiencing pressure from their environment because of their belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and their adherence to the one true God. Paul acknowledged these troubles in chapter two of his letter to the Thessalonians. But the troubles were not what concerned Paul the most.
Paul was concerned about their faith—their belief in Jesus and their confidence in Him. Their troubles were not what troubled Paul. It was the believers' faith that he was checking on. Concern was so strong that Paul said he could no longer endure not knowing about their faith. The NLT said, "...when we could stand it no longer…" And Paul sent Timothy to check on the church there in Thessalonica.
Paul sent Timothy for a specific purpose. And the purpose was not to necessarily offer comfort for the troubles the believers were having. Comfort certainly was involved, but Timothy was sent to help the faith of the church. Paul sent Timothy on a mission to strengthen and encourage the church in its faith. The purpose of the church being strengthened and encouraged in their faith, was to keep them from being shaken by the troubles they were going through.
The message from Paul became even clearer as he explained that troubles were a part of the Christian life, and he had warned the church about the trouble that was sure to come. But if their faith in God were strong, then even though trouble came, it would not shake them. The word shaken is also rendered moved, disturbed, unnerved, unsettled, and caused to break down. Paul was more concerned about the faith of the young church than he was about the troubles they were going through. Paul knew that trouble was a part of the life of a believer. But bigger than the trouble was faith in God. And faith in God would keep them steady, not shaken despite the trouble. We also have to keep in mind that Paul himself went through a litany of extremely difficult times after becoming a believer. But in his last letter before his death, he wrote to Timothy that the Lord had stood with him and gave him strength, and he was delivered from the mouth of the lion. The mouth of the lion is closer than I want to be. But Paul concludes that "the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom." (2 Timothy 4:17-18)
Paul was concerned that Satan had tempted the young believers at Thessalonica, and all the work they had done in reaching them for Christ was for nothing. So Paul sent Timothy to check on their faith. Was it still strong? Were they sticking with the Lord instead of giving in to the pressure and being deceived by the enemy that life without Christ was better? In later verses, we see that the Thessalonians did stick with their faith and stayed with the Lord. And we see Paul's heart in verse eight when he declares, "For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord."
APPLICATION
In reading Paul's letters, we see in his expressions a reflection of the heart of God for the believers. Paul knew troubles in life would come, but troubles were not the main point. The main thing is faith in God. Faith in Jesus as Lord. Faith in an eternal kingdom of which we are a part. Faith that the Lord will help us in the troubles and deliver us even if it's from the lion's mouth.
So, our response to one another when we are going through trouble is not pity. Rather, it is a resolve to strengthen and encourage one another's faith. This life is the shortest thing we will ever do. We want to live strong and not shaken, moved, unsettled, unnerved or caused to break down. We want to stand fast in the Lord!
PRAYER
Lord, I have faith in You and Your power. I believe You can strengthen me, and help me, and deliver me. I will stand firm in You!