Caring for Others

Introduction

Paul continues to share with us ways to live that are pleasing to God. The first part of 1 Thessalonians 4 is about taking care of one’s self by living a life of godliness and holiness. Verses 9-11 shift to caring for others.

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 NIV84

9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

There are four distinct themes in these verses. First, we see the emphasis of loving other Christians.

Love Other Christians (vs.9)

Paul uses what is called a writing technique called paralipsis. It is when an author writes something that they pretend they are going to passover. In my mind, I think of paralipsis as a form of double speak. In essence Paul is saying, “Now about this idea about brotherly love, I don’t need to write you about it but I am going to do so anyway.” By saying this, he captures my attention to find out why he is going to do so. So far when love is mentioned in this book, it is the form of love called agape love. If you remember, agape love is loving unconditionally. It is a love that God possesses for His children. Here, the shift is to a different kind of love. Brotherly love stems from the Greek word Philadelphia, just like the name of the city in Pennsylvania, which I am told is called the “city of brotherly love.” A more accurate translation is actually brotherly and sisterly love. This is an example of an ancient form of inclusive language where believers, male and female, were called to love those who had become part of the family of Christ. This kind of love in one where Christians are to cherish each other. This was one of the characteristics of Paul’s letters, encouraging believers to love each other. It was one of his mainstays in his instruction.

Romans 12:10 NIV84

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

It was also listed in other passages that were influenced by Paul’s teaching.

Hebrews 13:1 NIV84

1 Keep on loving each other as brothers.

1 Peter 1:22 NIV84

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 3:18 NIV84

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

1 Peter 3:8 NIV84

8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Paul makes the emphasis in verse 9 that was very intentional. The design of God was to be instructed in a way that we carry out those instructions to build His kingdom.

Isaiah 54:13 NIV84

13 All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.

Jesus picked up on this idea and proclaimed it was well.

John 6:45 NIV84

45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

I emphasize this because that which we have been instructed to do and emphasized more by Jesus than any other concept, is to love one another. It is a command that was instituted by God early on in scripture. The ancient law in Leviticus tells us to love one another.

Leviticus 19:18 NIV84

18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Jesus teaches this even more in Mark 12:28-31

Mark 12:28–31 NIV84

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Paul again reminds us that this is something instituted by God and He is instructing us in how to do it through the love He has given us and equipped us to have.

Romans 5:5 NIV84

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

So maybe Paul didn’t need to write to them about brotherly love, but he sure gives us some great reminders as to why we need to practice philadelphia love! He takes the paralipsis and shifts to another thought. Paul seems to imply here a need to have brotherly love and to use that brotherly love for other churches.

Love for Other Churches (vs. 10)

1 Thessalonians 4:10 NIV84

10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Paul encourages the believers by acknowledging what they are doing well. The words, “in fact,” indicate the idea that it is one thing to know what to do, but another thing to do it!

Isn’t it good to get encouragement? How do you feel when you receive encouragement?

Hebrews 3:13 NIV84

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

One of the reasons Paul was encouraging here was because he had invested much into the lives of those in the Thessalonian church. However, he had also invested much in other churches throughout Macedonia. This is evidence of a spiritual and a psychological connection to the other churches in the area. Perhaps this is placed here for us to think about the churches in our area and extend brotherly love to them. Think about that for a moment. Surrounding our church in less than half a mile, there are four other churches of different denominations. Have we in any shape or form extended brotherly love to them? Are there ways that we could?

Paul is giving us something to think about here in this passage. Now I know the circumstances are different as the churches in Macedonia were spread further apart. They were used as places to provide hospitality and encouragement as the missionaries went from one area to another.

Romans 16:1–2 NIV84

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

These churches also provided enrichment for each other. They were places of economic support as the provided help for these missionaries. Philippians 4:14-16

Philippians 4:14–16 NIV84

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

They were places of financial support providing for those who were in need. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 NIV84

1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

I know the other churches around us are all different denominations, but I am certain that there will be no denominational barriers in heaven. Revelation 7:9

Revelation 7:9 NIV84

9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

We will be put together with different churches, different races and so many different things that we use to divide us here on this earth. So if that is the case, what do we need to do on this earth to practice for that which we will be part of heaven? I mean, if we are going to be perfected in heaven and we will combined with all shapes and flavors of other believers, why can’t we start doing it now?

Paul’s appeal to us in our text is that we are urged to love throughout the region, more and more. This means to abound and abound willingly to the point of overflowing. It is a task in which we habitually do. Do you know what happens when we do?

Acts 13:49 NIV84

49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

Christian love is not to be self-protective or clannish. We should not just hang out with our sacred few, we should express love widely and unsparingly. We should never come to the point where we sit back and say everything is complete and settled. We need to keep moving forward and doing more of what Christ has called us to do and be!

Lead with Character (vs. 11)

Verse 11 shows us distinctly what we need to do as we lead with character. First we are called to live a quiet life. This means we are to avoid restlessness. Do you know any one that is restless? Restlessness is the opposite of a quiet life. It is the inability to remain still or at rest or a mood characterized by this. Often, there are believers that are busy bodies. Does anyone pop up in your mind? Don’t name names! But every gathering of believers has those folks that are always busy. God’s design is for us to live a quiet life.

Isaiah 32:17 NIV84

17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Next, Paul has the nerve to tell his readers to mind your own business. Have you ever wanted to tell someone that in the name of Jesus? Now you can! Paul is talking about meddlesomeness. This means interfering or being intrusive in the affairs of others. Every person should handle his or her own affairs and responsibilities.

Proverbs 26:17 NIV84

17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Paul also tells us to work with our own hands. He is talking here about idleness. This is simply the mindset of being lazy or inactive. There is a trend among some Christian teachers that all you have to do is ask God to give it to you without working and utilizing the gifts of what God has given you. We are called to be responsible enough to handle our own affairs. The admonition is made more clear in the second letter to these same Thessalonians:

2 Thessalonians 3:9–12 NIV84

9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

Live Christlike (vs. 12)

We are to love other Christians, love other churches, lead with character and lastly in verse 12 of our text today, we see the admonition to live Christlike.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 NIV84

12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

We are to show Christ daily, not just on Sundays. We should live for our Lord daily because daily He lives for us!

Psalm 68:19 NIV84

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah

We should be devoted. We are called to be representatives of Christ.

Romans 12:10 NIV84

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

This is a repeat of the command of Christ.

John 15:12 NIV84

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

The last implication that I see in this idea of living Christlike is to be a person that is determined. Paul says, “so you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Psalm 119:112 NIV84

112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

You and I are called not to a popularity contest nor a validation for the church. Rather, we are called to live a noticeable life that makes a difference for the Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 2:2 NIV84

2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.