Appointed To Affliction Series

One of our neighbors had a common but nerve wracking

experience. Her little girl did not come home from school at noon.

She got worried and went out to look for her, but she was no where

around. The mother was just sick with worry as the worst possible

thoughts went through her mind. She sought the help of a

policewoman at the school, and she drove her through the area and

they found the little girl playing at a friend’s house. It all ended

well, but the mother was so upset she could not eat for the rest of the

day.

Was her attitude of anxiety a sign of the lack of faith? Not at

all, for it was a sign of the presence of love. Persons and things are

in two different categories. It is a virtue to have great concern for

persons. Jesus wept for them and died for them. It is a vice only

when we transfer such deep concern to things. It is when we get

upset and anxious about the rug, the car and the golf clubs that we

are in danger of sin, but to feel deep concern for persons has all the

weight of Scripture to support it as a virtue. Jesus made it clear that

we are not to worry about tomorrow, or about any of the necessities

of life. Paul said we are to be anxious for nothing. Both of them,

however, made it clear by example and exhortation that we are to

have care for persons. We want to examine our text to see Paul’s

anxious affection and the cause of his concern, which is appointed

affliction.

I. PAUL’S ANXIOUS AFFECTION.

In chapter two Paul said that he was gentle like a mother to

them. He exhorted, comforted and charged them like a father. Now

he carries on the role of an anxious parent who does not know what

is happening to his child in a dangerous situation. With all of Paul’s

assurance of eternal security, he never used that doctrine as a basis

for indifference. He was concerned about these new converts, and

verse 5 shows just how concerned he was. With all of his assurance

he never underestimated the power of the enemy. He believed the

message of the parable of the soils that Jesus taught, which made it

clear that Satan can snatch the seed away. Even where it begins to

grow it can be destroyed before it becomes fruit. Jesus said that

persecution made some whither before they became fruitful, and

Paul was concerned that this could happen to his converts.

Paul was anxious about them. He was no “love them and leave

them” evangelist. He knew that his work was not completed until

they were established and able to meet the enemy and conquer. He

believed in a strong follow up program. Most of the New Testament

is follow up literature. Paul is writing this letter to strengthen them

so that they might be grounded in the faith. It is this kind of anxious

affection that drives us to care to the point of sacrifice. This should

characterize all believers, for there is always danger that fellow

believers will fall back.

Paul says that he couldn’t stand it any longer not knowing how

they were standing up under affliction. He chose the difficult path

of personal loneliness in order to send Timothy to help them and

bring word back to him. It was no small sacrifice to give up his only

Christian companionship and be left alone in Athens. Paul was a

man who counted a great deal on his companions as he traveled

about in a pagan world. He always had a Titus, a Timothy, or a

Silas at his side. Jesus taught that disciples should go two by two,

for our relationship to God has a social aspect as well as the

personal aspect. He said that where two or three are gathered in His

name He will be present. Paul was willing to give up this fellowship

and suffer loneliness that he might aid these new Christians. Calvin

put it, “He chose rather to be left alone than that they should be

deserted.” What was it that made Paul so concerned about them? It

was-

II. THEIR APPOINTED AFFLICTION.

It is the appointed lot of the Christian to suffer affliction, or as

the same word is translated in verse 4, tribulation. This does not

mean God arranged it and brought it to pass, but that it is the

inevitable result of standing for a minority concept that clashed with

the prejudice of the majority. As far as possible the Christian is to

live peaceably with all men. The ideal is progress without

persecution, but the world will not tolerate the Christian conviction,