It's All in How You Look at It

We looked at 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 tonight.  In this passage, Paul is explains how he felt about leaving, and why he sent Timothy back to see the church.  It isn't hard to imagine that Paul and his message were the subject of a devious smear campaign in Thessalonica.  Fearing the worst and unable to go himself, Paul sends an approved worker to check on his people.  This passage demonstrates Paul's tenderness toward his people, and the depth of his concern.

Paul explains that his absence was not his choice.  He states he was "torn away" from the church in "person, but not in heart."  They may have chased Paul out of town, but they had not caused him to forget his beloved church.  He was not absent because he lacked desire, on the contrary, he had a "great desire" to see them again.  He was not absent because he lacked effort, on the contrary, he had "endeavored the more eagerly" to see them again. He was not absent because he lacked love for the church, on the contrary, they were his glory and his joy.

Although his plans to return to them were halted by Satan, Paul was not content to let the matter rest.  He had to know how they were doing, so he sent Timothy.  His knowledge and spiritual maturity made him right for the job; his youth made it possible for him to fly in under the radar.  Timothy's mission was two-fold: he was to strengthen and encourage the believers in their hardship, and he was sent to ease Paul's fear.  Paul knew that he could trust Timothy to accomplish both tasks.

Here are a few implication that arise from the text:

1. The relationship between a minister and the congregation should be one of mutual love, respect, and delight.
2. Our desire for the spiritual well-being of other should motivate us to continue in faithful service to the Lord.
3. Satan strives to undo the work of God.  He is real, and he seeks to hinder us in our service.  We must strive against him.
4. Suffering is part of the Christian experience.  If we want to follow Jesus, we must expect suffering.
5. We must rest in God's Sovereignty.

Servant of All

"And he said to them, 'If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all'" (Mark 9:35).

Do you ever find yourself fighting for position?  Maybe you just want to be "recognized." Maybe you think you aren't appreciated enough.  Most of us deal with these feelings at times.  Jesus' disciples did.  It seems they were always fighting for position.

It is during on of these arguments that Jesus confronts his disciples.  They had been "discussing" who was the greatest among them, when Jesus says, "What have you all been discussing." Like guilty children, they all remained silent.  He called them together, and brought a child into their midst.  Taking the child in his arms, Jesus said, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me" (see Mark 9:33-37).

Jesus struck at their pride by telling them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."  In other words, service is the key to greatness.  Then, to illustrate exactly what he meant, he brings a child before them and says serve him.  Children were often little more than property in the first century.  They were to be seen and not heard, and certainly not served.

But Jesus didn't care what the culture said.  He came to serve.  His life was given for men, women, and children.  It was given for Jew and Gentile.  The fast tract to greatness is a life of service to others--all others, even the small and insignificant.  Even the culturally marginalized. 

I think children were actually given to parents to teach them how to become better servants.  A child, even one as beautiful, intelligent, and grateful as mine, continually wants more than they are given.  If you give them an hour of your time, they want six.  If you play one round of a game, they want three.  If you give them two cookies, they want ten.  Sometimes they thank you, sometimes the throw a tantrum.

Children are in a perpetual state of need.  They need someone to prepare their food, wash their clothes, help them in the potty, etc.  With each opportunity, a choice is given.  We can hone our skills as a servant, or we can blunt the blade with resentment and selfishness.

Training a child trains the parents as well.  The process of caring for a small child prepares your caring for your aging parent or spouse.  The impatience of a child can teach you how impatient you are when you realize you were about to throw a fit because the kids interrupted your favorite t.v. show.  The way a child is free to laugh at themselves can teach you not to take yourself to seriously. And so on.

Your pride wants to be first, but it doesn't want to pay the price.  Pride wants a kingdom without a cross. Pride is like gum on the sole of your shoe, it's messy and impedes movement.  You got to scrape it off, and throw it away.  As long as you are prideful, you can never be great in the kingdom of heaven.  It is only when we stop wanting to be "first," that we ever have the potential to truly become great. 

Having children won't necessarily make you a better servant (and not having children won't keep you from becoming a servant).  It will all depend on how you respond.  Are you really concerned with their needs?  Are you serving them in the love of Christ?  Does serving them make you more joyful, than being served yourself?

I know from personal experience just how difficult cultivating this mindset can be.  I find myself straining against it a thousand times a day, and 990 times I fail.  Serving others, for their benefit and God's glory, is a task that requires supernatural strength to accomplish it.  God must work in us to will and do his good pleasure.  And he does, but often we impede the process.

If your children can't get you to serve, God might send more difficult people your way.  The more we stumble, the more God sends difficult people our way for us to serve.  Because when we receive them (and serve them) in Jesus name, we're not only receiving (serving) them, but Jesus, too.  And we're not only receiving (serving) Jesus, but the Father, too.  Would you agree that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of our service?  Then dare to become a servant of all. Because it's all about being conformed into the image of Christ.

As You Wish

If you have seen the movie, The Princess Bride, you are familiar with the characters Wesley and Buttercup.  If you haven't seen it, how did you discover the internet.  You should crawl out of your hole, and go buy a copy of it.  No, don' t rent it, you'll just wind up wanting to rent it again.  It's that funny.  All kidding aside, it is a great movie--you should see it.

Anyway, Wesley is a young farmhand who is deeply in love with his master's daughter, Buttercup.  Wesley reveals his love to Buttercup by simply responding to her orders with the expression, "As you wish."  In time, Buttercup realizes that Wesley loves her and she loves him.  It's a touching story, with a lot of humor thrown in.

I was reminded of the story this afternoon when Sophia asked for a peanut butter and marshmallow (cream) sandwich.  Yes, I am aware that they are probably not very "good" for you, but they taste really good.  So from time to time I make her one.

I realized, as I was making the sandwich, that I enjoy serving her.  I find my spirits lifted in the act of serving others.  As her father, my desire is to give her the desires of her heart.  Yet, I know that I cannot give into her every wish--like marshmallow or pizza for breakfast.  Nor can I give it to her every time she asks.

At times, I feel crushed by the urgent.  There is so much to do.  Then a little voice calls to me, "Daddy, can you play with me?" The temptation is to think that what I am doing is more important than play time, but much of the time it isn't.  She needs me to serve her in this way.

So at times, I smile, put my stuff to the side, and say, "As you wish."  Because I know one day, she'll understand it means, "I love you (more than me)."

Idea Or Desire?

What is the difference between an idea and a desire? An idea can be defined as "something imagined or pictured in the mind." A desire can be defined as "a longing for or hoping for." The distinction between an idea and a desire is crucial for ministry. Within the framework of the church, every believer is to be a minister. The role of the pastor is to equip the saints for ministry so that the church will be built up into maturity in Christ (see Eph. 4:11-13). This truth teaches us that the primary ministry of the pastor, through preaching and prayer, is equipping the saints.

Many of us get ideas for ministry. We see some need, like tending to the widows or adopting orphans, and we think that's a good idea. However, for many of us that is a far as we get. Sometimes people will say to me, "Bro. Randy, I think the church ought to do so-and-so," and having presented me with their idea they feel their work is done. Situations like these bring us back to our initial question in this post. What is the difference between an idea and a desire? If someone shares their idea with me, I may agree that it is a good one, but that does mean I am going to act on it. For one, I may lack the resources to act on it, whether it be time, knowledge, or strength. Or I may lack the desire.

What most of us don't realize is that sometimes what we mistake as an idea (a thought) is really the Holy Spirit creating a desire (a longing). He doesn't want us to hand it off to someone else, he wants us, through him, to serve God with this desire. Before I received the "call" to preach, I had an idea of what preaching was, but I had no desire to preach (or to even listen). Yet, the when I received the call, the idea became a desire. The desire grew so great that my fear of public speaking was dwarfed by my longing to preach the word. When we serve him out of the desires he has placed in our heart, God is glorified. Our obedience to these desires is often used by God to draw others who will labor along side of us. Ministries often fail in churches, not because of lack of resources (money, time, people), but because they are headed by people who have an idea, but no desire.

How do we know the difference between an idea and a desire? Do you recognize a define need? Does the thought come to you and leave, like a butterfly fluttering between flowers or does it gnaw at you like a starving pit bull with a ham bone? Do your thoughts return frequently to the ways in which God would be exalted if the "idea" succeeded? Are you willing to make any sacrifice to see it happen? Are you ashamed you haven't done something yet? Are you beginning to recognize in others the giftedness and talent that can see this "idea" through to reality? Are you continually returning to God in prayer, yearning to see it happen? If your answer to these questions are yes (and gnawing not fluttering), then friend you have a desire. If you have a desire, I can help equip you for this work of ministry. I can encourage you. I can fan the flames of passion so that it spreads throughout the church, butI cannot take your place. If the Lord has given you the desire, you better be prepared to work.