INTRODUCTION
Growing up I had my heroes. I had sports heroes. Basketball players like John Havlicek and Pete Maravich; baseball greats like Johnny Bench and Ken Griffey, Sr.; and football heroes like Larry Csonka and Bob Griese. I had Western heroes like John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Jimmy Stewart, Gary Cooper, and Audie Murphy. Men in certain vocations were my heroes, like policemen, firemen, and soldiers. Even comic book heroes like Spiderman and Superman held my respect.
But I also had my spiritual heroes as well, those who greatly influenced my life. People like my parents who modeled church attendance and Bible reading for me; pastors like George Aston, Ory Miller, John Smith, and Ted Windham; and SMC faculty like Charles Bennett and David Luethy. There have been many others along the way as well.
If you had asked any of these spiritual heroes of mine if he were a hero, most likely you would have gotten a flat out “No!” Though they would never admit it, their influence was greater than any of them may have known. And some of them were “unlikely heroes.”
What is an “unlikely hero?” It is someone who, because of background or circumstances, never dreamed they could ever influence someone else, but through their lives provided the impact needed by those around them.
BACKGROUND
I want to introduce you to this series, “Unlikely Heroes,” with first a review of what characteristics might be found in people who seem very unlikely to become heroes. As the series progresses, we will be considering some people of the Bible who portray these characteristics, as well as the one unique attribute that set them apart.
Our text for today is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. This particular section of the letter is a warning against idleness. It appears that some among the Thessalonica church took Paul’s teaching about the coming of the Lord in the first letter to indicate that they must give up everything and wait. They stopped working and began to depend on others. Paul’s warning here is that idleness is wrong.
But along the way, Paul reveals about himself what I believe are characteristics of unlikely heroes. Now, Paul will be one of the men whose life we will profile later, but humor me a little here as we investigate this passage. READ: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
There are at least three characteristics of an unlikely hero indicated here:
I. He Works without Expecting Recognition (vs. 7)
Notice that Paul does talk about the church imitating him, but also notice that he went about his work without ever expecting at the time that they would praise him. While he was among them, he simply did what he had to do, never wanting to receive any glory. It is only later that he could look back and say, “Look at my example! I worked for what I needed. I did not indicate in any way that we should just cease to work.”
Unlikely heroes are just like that. They can be found doing their jobs without ever expecting anyone to notice at the time. They are not seeking recognition for the work they do, because it’s their job! Yet the influence they wield over the lives they touch can never be expressed into words.
When I first started teaching at Dillon Christian School, the custodian there was an older man named Leroy Turner, better known as “Mr. T” to staff and students alike. He was a retiree who just wanted to work and be active. Except when he spoke to someone or pretended to shoot students with his “finger gun,” you would scarcely notice his presence. Yet the trash cans were always emptied, floors swept and mopped or vacuumed, and everything in its place. When he passed away a few years into my tenure there, it was a great loss to all of us, because we felt a part of the school had been ripped from us. We honored him by attaching a recognition plate to a table in what is called the Commons Area. I had the privilege of writing a short poem for that plate. It reads:
Our hallowed halls are empty now,
We’ve lost a dear, close friend.
He walks the halls of glory now,
His earthly walk at end.
Though he was gone, he was not forgotten by those whom he influenced with his life.
That is what an unlikely hero is like! Steady as steady goes, solid as a rock, and never a word of self-praise or desiring recognition.
I believe that God is looking for that characteristic in all of His people. In Romans 12:3, God through the pen of Paul warns, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Proverbs 25:27 says it is not “glorious to seek one's own glory.” Both James and Peter quote from Proverbs 3:34 when they declare, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 & 1 Peter 5:5).
Maybe there are some unlikely heroes here today that God can use who exhibit this great attribute!
There is a second characteristic of an unlikely hero:
II. He Acts to Benefit Others (vs. 8)
Paul says that in the time he spent ministering to the Thessalonians that he did not eat anything for free, all because he did not want to be a burden to them. In other words, he only worked to benefit them. He had no desire to welch off of their kindness, but rather thought it beneficial to them that he not be a burden. What humility and grace!
What we know about Paul and the early church leaders is that they always did their jobs or ministered to benefit others. How else could you explain the beatings and imprisonments they endured if not by stating it was for the advantage of others. They thought more of those to whom they ministered than of their own bodies.
What a contrast to today’s world, where selfishness and self-satisfaction is the norm. Unfortunately, I am afraid it has crept unawares into the lives of Christians. Brothers and sisters, it ought not to be! A rare find is someone whose name is rarely known but who has labored for others, and his work is known well.
I want to tell you the story of John McLaughry. John's father was a football coach. It was one of those bad nights. The team had lost that day. Coach Tuss McLaughry, in the privacy of his home, was indulging in an old and familiar lament. “What I need is a good blocking back,” he muttered. “If I'd had one, we could have saved that game.” Young John, ready for bed, looked up at his father gravely. “When I grow up, I'll be a blocking back, Pop,” he said. Then, as it seemed essential to know, he asked, “What is a blocking back, Pop? Tuss grinned at the youngster, but there was still a trace of grimness behind the grin. “He's the fellow,” he said, “who does the job and let’s somebody else get the glory. Now, run along to bed.” 15 years later John McLaughlin was captain of the Brown University varsity team, and one of the best blocking backs in the nation. He seldom made a touchdown – but he set the stage for every one of them.
Could this possibly be another attribute important for God to find in His children? I think so! Paul offered this advice in Galatians 6:9-10: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” The writer of Hebrews concluded his letter with these words of exhortation: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16).
Does any here possess this quality? If so, maybe you are an unlikely hero in the making!
The third characteristic of an unlikely hero is:
III. He does everything for God’s glory (Vss. 6, 12)
The apostle makes his appeal “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” and also stated that he was encouraging them “in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Why? Because he knew the secret of all we do is to make Him known and to glorify Him. That was certainly Paul’s motivation, as he mentions it in nearly all of his writings. Paul’s life was all about bringing glory to the One who redeemed him and changed his life forever. To the Thessalonians he had been sent by His Savior, and propagated the gospel of His Savior in the name of his Savior.
The early church understood this quality. They did not seek to satisfy themselves, but rather sought the good of all men, saved and unsaved. To the saved, they prayed that their good gestures would bring them to Christ. After all, it was the Lord who said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). To fellow believers, they shared the grace of God and worked to edify each other.
Johann Sebastian Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.”
He headed his compositions: “J.J.” “Jesus Juva” which means “Jesus help me.”
He ended them “S.D.G.” “Soli Dei gratia” which means “To God alone the praise.”
That is also our goal in life in all we do. Paul commanded, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Later he would say, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Peter concurred, adding, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: … in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
This attribute should be common among all believers, with all of us desiring to glorify God, and thus be unlikely heroes.
CONCLUSION
Does anyone remember the TV show “The Greatest American Hero”? The series chronicles teacher Ralph Hinkley’s adventures after a group of aliens gives him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, he immediately loses its instruction booklet, and thus has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error, often with comical results. The lyrics to the theme song, Believe It or Not, are:
Look at what's happened to me,
I can't believe it myself.
Suddenly I'm up on top of the world,
It should've been somebody else.
Believe it or not,
I'm walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free-.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it's just me.
It's like a light of a new day,
It came from out of the blue.
Breaking me out of the spell I was in,
Making all of my wishes come true.
Believe it or not,
I'm walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free-.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it's just me.
To whom are you a hero today? You might be saying, “Wait, what, me a hero?” Yes, you! You might be thinking that it could never be you, that you are not a good enough example, that you have a lot to work on yourself. That’s okay. The heroes we will be considering never thought anyone would ever consider them a hero, yet here we are thousands of years later talking about them.
Whether you realize it or not, someone somewhere is looking to you as their hero in the faith. Don’t make excuses of why you can’t, get busy in cooperating with the Spirit to be the best saint God expects you to be! With his empowering grace, you CAN and WILL BE someone’s unlikely hero!
Who could it be – believe it or not it’s just … YOU!
