NOT AN OPTION
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 NKJV
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
OBSERVATION:
Reading Paul's letters to the churches, we see consistent themes. Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit, is very strong in the realities of what has transpired through the new birth. Paul recognizes that once someone receives Jesus as Lord, there is a spiritual change that takes place. His writings are essential to us growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus and what God has done for us through grace.
But Paul does not stay in the great doctrinal clouds. He not only delivers deep spiritual truths but also brings the practical application of what living for God looks like. He is consistently adamant about how we are to treat one another. Jesus told His disciples before the cross that their love for one another would be the sign to the world that they were His disciples (John 13:34-35). Jesus could have mentioned miracles would be the sign. Or that all men would know by the teachings and wisdom that His followers displayed. But Jesus specifically said love would be the telltale.
So, in Paul's writings, he makes mention of how the church, the believers, are to treat one another. More than courtesy, more than good social graces, how we treat one another is not an option. So, Paul provides some guidelines as to how to treat various groups inside the church.
Warn the unruly. Other translations read instruct the lazy. And warn the idle and insubordinate. Warning and instructing are not outside the bounds of walking in the love that Jesus commanded. Love does what is best for the other person. A person who is lazy, idle, and insubordinate is going to have a difficult time in all aspects of life unless they make an adjustment. So, warning them is a loving thing.
Comfort the timid and faint-hearted. The Strongs Dictionary says this word 'faint-hearted' is the combination of two words meaning small in mind. The King James Bible uses the term feeble-minded. But these are the people who are not small in their mental capacity but rather small in their thinking. This small-mindedness causes them to be fretful and worried. Don't dismiss these folks, but rather encourage them.
Support and hold up those who are weak. This weakness can cover many areas but would include spiritually weak, emotionally weak, and materially weak. Christianity is the one group that should not be dominating or abusing the weak but instead showing them support. The world runs over the weak, but that's not our heart or our option.
Be patient with all. Patient is the word long-suffering, which is the opposite of being hasty in anger and punishment. I don't think I want to go into detail regarding what this looks like in real life, lest I incriminate myself. I can't say that patient is the first word that comes to Joy's mind when describing her husband. The redeeming news is that improvement can happen, so don't give up, but don't opt out. Patience with people is a requirement.
And Paul reminds these believers who love Jesus and have done a good job of loving one another to not pay back evil for evil to anyone. Instead, pursue what is good. Find opportunities to do good to the family of God and to all men. Jesus said that we are to treat others the way we want to be treated. His words in Matthew 7:12 have been called the Golden Rule, not the golden option.
These verses for today are part of a list of directives to the church. It is ironic that these instructions about how to treat others come before rejoicing in the Lord, praying always, and giving thanks in all things. We simply don't have the option of treating the Lord wonderfully but not being good to people.
PRAYER
Lord, help me treat people in a way that is pleasing to You.