READ: 1
Thessalonians 2
This
chapter is a fantastic example of how ministers of the gospel should live, act
and work. We can take principles from Paul’s excellent example of
disciple-making.
Principle #1:
In order to have effective and lasting ministry, we must be appointed by God
and do it to please Him only. Paul says they were tested and approved by God. Their only
motivation was to please Him. They were willing to withstand all kinds of
persecution if it meant the Lord would be pleased. Paul was not interested in
manipulating the circumstances, or using convincing words to increase the
number of people who converted. His goal was to minister to them in such a way
that God, after exposing his heart, would be completely pleased with him.
Principle #2:
Effective leadership comes from humble service. Paul makes
it clear that because God had appointed them as ministers they had every right to demand certain things from
them. They were the leaders, after all! But they didn’t. Instead, they humbled
themselves to serve, nurture and tenderly lead them. Paul says they were gentle
when they could have been demanding. This allowed Paul to build genuine, loving
relationships with them. Then within the context of those relationships, and
because of his authentic love toward them, he taught them how to love God and
love others.
Principle #3:
Holy living is necessary for effective discipleship. Paul is
careful to point out that they had deliberately not been a burden to them while
they were ministering the gospel. He made it clear how careful they had been to
live holy and blameless lives as examples to them. They could encourage the new
believers by showing them with their own good conduct how to live according to
the new life within them. We cannot expect others to live to standards we
ourselves are not willing to live to.
Principle #4:
It is good for us to be in ministry to earn a reward in heaven. Paul explains
in verses 19-20 that the people he has lead to the Lord, and who have become
faithful followers of Jesus will be the work he’ll show to Jesus when he sees
Him. He is fully aware that his reward will not be in businesses he founded
(Paul made tents for a living), or buildings he constructed, or money he made.
The only thing he knows he can boast to the Lord about is the lives of those he
impacted for Christ. This was his whole motivation in ministry – to receive a
crown, a reward, from the Lord. There is nothing wrong or selfish in working
towards a reward in heaven. Rather, this is the very reason God gave told us
there would be one – so we would work toward it.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. What ministry
are you involved in right now? Are you involved because God called you to this
or because you are pleasing people? Ask the Lord to speak to you about your
motivation for ministry. Is He pleased? Is He asking you to make changes? Take
some time to pray through this and ask for His next steps for you.
2. Ask the Lord
to give you 2-3 practical things you can do to serve the people you are
ministering to (this could be cell members, people at work, your children, or
whoever God brings to mind). Make a plan to be obedient. Ask Jesus to fill you
with love so your act of service would point them to Him instead of to you.
3. Ask Jesus if
there is anything in your lifestyle, your language, your attitude and tone, or
anything at all that could get in the way of others learning how to live a
godly life in Christ. Confess any sin He points out. Ask Him to give you grace
and courage to live a holy life that others can imitate.
4. Spend a few
minutes listening to Jesus. Ask Him to speak to you about the rewards in
heaven. Ask Him to create in your heart a deep desire to receive a reward from
Him when you see Him face to face. Thank Him for how He rewards those who
faithfully serve Him.
