2 Thessalonians chapter 3: verses 5-9 (NIV)
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
Philippians Chapter 3: Verses 7-9 (NIV)
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith inChrist—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
The first sentence in these verses caught my attention. Paul puts perseverance as important as love. But its not persevering in our own strength, but Christ’s. Some people have the determination naturally to stick at something and not give up regardless of the hurdles they may face, while others are tempted to throw in the towel when they are faced with the first hurdle. Things will not be handed to us on a plate. Jesus persevered in His calling despite fierce opposition – He knew what He was facing but He carried on regardless – He felt the end result was worth it. We read in Luke that, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (Luke Chapter 9: Verse 51) I can still hear the late Hugh Black, one of the founding members of Struthers Memorial Church, and an anointed preacher and teacher, talk in his distinctive burr about the importance of stickability in the Christian Walk. It was a quality that my own dad felt was important in daily life too. If I was facing any sort of challenge in life, he would often tell me to “stick in, lass, and show them what you’re made of.” If we live as Paul exhorts the Thessalonians, then what people will see is Christ.
Just as important to Paul is the importance of those within the church living a proper example and not taking something as a right or entitlement, even if we would be perfectly justified in doing so. Jesus set aside His rights to come from Heaven and did not claim those he was perfectly entitled to. Paul had a significant religious pedigree that in his day would have entitled him to a certain status. He cast all of that aside to follow Jesus.
We should never rest on our laurels because all that we have and are entitled to has been earned by Jesus, not us. That’s the example we need to be living in a culture where status and entitlement seems to be so important. Paul made himself a model for others to imitate. And all that he learned was from Jesus’ own example. As Christians today we still need to follow Paul’s example.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the resolute determination of Jesus to face the punishment of the cross on my behalf. May I know and exercise that same resolution and perseverance as I live my life, seeking to follow His example. I ask in His Name. Amen.