12/8/18
Tom Lowe
Lesson 21: WITH CONCERN FOR ONE ANOTHER (1Thess. 5:14-15)
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Lesson 21
(5:14) AND WE URGE YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WARN THOSE WHO ARE IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE, ENCOURAGE THE DISHEARTENED, HELP THE WEAK, BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE.
AND WE URGE YOU, BROTHERS{a] AND SISTERS, WARN THOSE WHO ARE IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE,
Paul has a warning for those who are IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE, which suggests that worship services in the early church were often interrupted by unruly members, and the Thessalonian church was no exception. Many of the disorderly ones held false ideas about the nearness of Christ’s second coming. The result is that they became indifferent toward the ordinary work of life, and sank into listlessness and apathy, and even worse. There is a proverb that says: “An idle brain is the devil’s workshop,” and when a man is not diligently employed in some healthy and vigorous occupation, he is apt, in spite of his Christian profession, to become an instrument of evil, and a disrupter of the church, the peace of which he is pledged to maintain. These are the restless gypsies of the church; they go from church to church seeking individuals who have the same opinions as theirs; they are the pests of every Christian community into which they intrude, the mischief-makers and busybodies in other people’s business.
Some have thought that this is a special directive to the elders of the church, but there is no change of address (brethren, v.12){c]. Ministry is not the monopoly of some special class; the members themselves have a ministry to perform for those of their members who are in need of warning, encouragement, and support. The loafers who refuse to work (4:11-12){b], are not to be supported in their idleness by the brethren, who are to join their leaders in warning them.
Occasionally, when I am around Christian friends I hear someone say, “The church has not experienced any trouble for a long time.” Such a statement is proof positive that the church is dead! Any church that is winning souls and spreading the Gospel will be attacked by the devil?from without and from within; and there will be disorderly conduct even among Christians unless they are warned, rebuked and disciplined. That is a Bible fact. Read the spiritual account of the disciples?Paul, Barnabas, and others?and you will find that human nature, regardless of how saved, sanctified, consecrated and dedicated one may be, must be battered and crucified daily. The old nature must be starved; it must be policed by the individual and by the right kind of spiritual leaders.
ENCOURAGE THE DISHEARTENED
More correctly, encourage the faint-hearted. He is not talking about the intellectually weak, but rather, those who faint in the face of adversity, or are ready to fall away before the prospect of persecution and suffering (2:14), or who are despondent and disheartened due to the loss of friends (2:13) and constant worry over their salvation. It may also include those who are perplexed with constant doubt and apprehension with regard to their spiritual condition, and who through fear are subject to bondage their entire life. There are some people that are so weighed down with a sense of modesty that they become incapacitated and unable to use the abilities they possess, though underneath all this modesty there may be the pride of thinking they are better able to judge themselves and their abilities than anybody else. And there are others who are so oppressed by ingrained sin that they lose hope of gaining the victory over it, and give up trying. These need to be encouraged with the promises of God, and with the lessons and examples furnished by experience. Heart-courage is what the faint-hearted require.
HELP THE WEAK,
A man may be weak in judgment or weak when it comes to putting it into practice. There are numerous reasons for their weakness, but the most common are (1), that there may be a lack of information concerning the great truths that must be believed and maintained or (2), a lack in the capacity to clearly understand and grasp those truths; and finally, they must not despise but help (cling to) the weak, i.e. those who were tempted to lapse into immorality (4:2-8). Defective faith implies defective practice.
The weak and faint-hearted are to be comforted; they need a stimulant; they need to be motivated, built up and pushed on. The unruly and disorderly are to be rebuked. They are self-confident and over-proud, and they need to be held in check. They need to be encouraged and treated with respect. We could do it, if we would only speak to them, shake their hand and encourage them, instead of passing them by. It is good for weak souls to know that there are others who are with them, who will cleave to them in difficult times, who will not forsake them. In various places Paul has a great deal to say about the weak (notably in Rom. 14 and 1 Cor. 8). He leaves us in no doubt, that there is a place for such in the church, and further that the strong have a particular duty toward them. So here the weak are not to be simply abandoned but made to feel that they belong and that they have strong comrades in Christ.
Paul’s instruction to “HELP THE WEAK” had already been practiced by Paul in Acts 20:35. He had set the example before preaching it to the Thessalonians: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’?” (Acts 20:35).
BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE.
The apostle says, “BE PATIENT” not only toward the weak, the faint-hearted, and the disorderly but toward all men, including even outsiders, who may be very trying at times because of their hostile actions, the most defiant and wicked, the bitterest enemies and persecutors. Think for a moment about the patience of God towards ourselves, even though for years we refused His calls and despised His warnings and reprimands. It is only Christianity that teaches a man to bear personal injuries without retaliation. Christians should not be putting their own interests first and taking a strong line with those who do not agree with them. Rather, they must be patient with all people, putting up with their bad manners, and patiently seeking to lead them in the way of the Lord.
Please notice?this is a command, and the subject of the sentence is YOU?each and every believer. To be patient and long-suffering is one of the special marks of real Christian grace. “Charity suffereth long . . .” (1 Cor. 13:4).
(5:15) MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY PAYS BACK WRONG FOR WRONG, BUT ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY PAYS BACK WRONG FOR WRONG,
What Paul is saying here is simply this: “See that no believer renders unto anyone evil in return for evil. It takes grace to return good for evil, but believers are saved by grace and the grace that saves also teaches that we should live righteously and godly in this present world.”
The Thessalonians to whom these words were addressed were themselves in no easy situation. Subjected to constant harassment from both Jew and Gentile, they could easily have become embittered. But it was while they were in this situation that they were called on to render to no one evil for evil. The great precepts of the Christian faith have always been addressed not only to those who find them easy to keep but to all. And they can be kept because along with the command God provides the power.
The noblest retaliation is good returned for evil. In the worst person, there is some element of goodness, that may summon from him the desire to do good. Our charity should be as large as an enemies’ malice (Matt. 5:44, 45){d]. That which is good is not always that which is pleasing to the objects of our charity, nor is it always pleasing to us. Goodness should be sought for its own sake. It is the great aim and business of life. Goodness is essentially diffusive; it delights in multiplying itself in others. It is undeterred by provocation; it conquers the most powerful opposition.
It is easy to be well disposed toward those who treat us well, but it is the essence of the Christian attitude that agape, self-giving love, be practiced toward all, even the unkind and vindictive. Our Master, for our salvation, endured patiently the insults and the injuries of wicked men. He, the Just, died for the unjust. In both these ways, His example is important for His people. As the servant is not greater than his lord, we must expect the same kind of treatment, and therefore, we must expect to be called on to show the same kind of patience under provocation. And since He came to die for sinful people, we must expect that our meekness is to be by way of ministering to the needs of the sinful also.
This expression “MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY PAYS BACK WRONG FOR WRONG” certainly reproduces the teaching of Jesus (Matt. 5:44){d], and He fully exemplified it in His life (1 Peter 2:23){e].
In Romans 12:19-21 Paul said, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This is the teaching of Christ in Matthew 5:38-48 in His sermon on the mount, and 1 Peter 2:18-25 also admonishes us against returning evil for evil.
“BUT ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE.”
The statement, “STRIVE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD” means follow?not by imitation?but by way of aim and pursuit. The good here is that which benefits the fellowman. It follows, and is closely associated with, the command, “MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY PAYS BACK WRONG FOR WRONG.” We might say it this way, “Christians, always make the good of your fellow man your aim; do not let the unworthiness and carelessness on their part turn you aside from it.”
The positive exhortation, “STRIVE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD” must refer to acts of love in the face of hostility rather than to ethical goodness in general. At the same time, it should be noted that the term is a broad one. Paul is not simply saying, “Do little deeds of love when you might be expected to retaliate.” He is laying down goodness in the face of provocation as a great general principle that must underlie the conduct of Christians at all times.
It is not enough to just avoid retaliation; all resentment is to be extinguished by the love that eagerly seeks to repay evil with good. Because if they would not be overcome with evil, they must overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:19-21){f].
Special notes and Scripture
[a} The address “BROTHERS” shows that these words are directed to the entire membership and not simply to the leaders. The basis for this supposition is:
1. In verse 12 the brothers seem to be distinguished from “those . . . who are over you in the Lord.”
2. Just as verse 12 is addressed to the whole church (not simply to the leaders), so is this verse. The content of the command is to look to the needs of certain people in the church. While this would be in a special measure the responsibility of those holding office, it was also something that lay on the shoulders of all (perhaps it was something the leaders should lead others to do). It was (and is) characteristic of the Christian understanding of life that the entire brotherhood is charged with responsibility for all. Christians care for others is not to be left to any special class of believers.
[b} “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need” (1 Thess. 4:11-12).
[c} “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.” (1 Thess. 5:12)
[d} “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt.5:44-45).
[e} “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).
[f} “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19-21).
