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02 Jun ' 19:40
Part 7Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.1 Thessalonians 2:8“Having so fond an affection for you” takes us back to the previous verse. It reflects the bond between a parent and a beloved child. It means to long for someone passionately and earnestly. It is an affection that is unsurpassed.He (Paul) committed himself totally to the Thessalonians rather than remaining aloof and uninvolved in their struggles to come to terms with the new faith that had been declared to them. The reason Paul desired to share himself with the Thessalonians is given in the concluding causal clause of v. 8… (“because you had become very dear to us”).1
Once again we are faced with the reality that ministry is not project oriented but people oriented. We desire to impart the gospel because we really believe it. Its impact in our own lives is so great that we will make whatever personal sacrifices are necessary for the benefit of other people.
This sacrifice Paul was making was not with hesitation or begrudgingly. Instead it was a delight because the Thessalonian believers were so precious to him.
As those who have the privilege to serve the Lord, we should ask ourselves these important questions:- Do I have a fond affection for those the Lord has allowed me to work with?
- Am I imparting both the gospel as well as my own life?
Ministry must never become drudgery. Our love and service for the benefit of others must remain strong.Rocky
1 Wanamaker, C. A. (1990). The Epistles to the Thessalonians : A commentary on the Greek text (102). Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans.
2010-05-31Ministry Defined, Part 6, Rocky Wyatt, 2010-05-24
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