Work, Labor, Endurance - Come From Christ

Trinity XXI --- October 16, 2005

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5a

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Paul writes to this fledgling congregation in Thessalonika because they are being persecuted by the Jews in town. In fact, Paul had to leave there at night when he first visited, because of that persecution. The Jews didn’t like what he was preaching, but many Greeks became believers in Jesus through the message Paul proclaimed. When the Jews in the area worked up a crowd, dragging some of the believers before the town leaders, the brethren sent Paul away by night, hidden under the cover of darkness, and he went then to Berea (Acts 17:1-11)

Now, we must understand this word brethren, or as used in our text, brothers. Today, we may be familiar with the worldly idea of the brotherhood of mankind - all of us, male and female, as well as black, white, red, yellow, skin tones, are all the same. Indeed, all are created by God with their various differences. In regard to the colored outward appearance of differences, we all have the same ancestors. We all come from Adam and Eve. God does not tolerate prejudice based upon skin color. He has created us as all one race - the human race.

While it might be politically correct to link the worldly use to Paul’s use of the word brothers in our text, it is definitely meant in that regard. The word brothers as used here and in other places in the New Testament, has a specific meaning, a meaning which excludes many of those who were physically created by God. The word brothers, or as you may also have heard it, brethren, refers instead to those who by faith have been united to Christ. In being united to Christ through baptism, believers lose their self-identity before God in regard to their salvation. Believers stand before God, united to Christ, all with the same identity - the identity of being one body in Christ Jesus - hence, we are all brothers, for in regard to our salvation, we are all in Christ

As we get back to what happened to Paul in Thessalonika, he had originally come there after he was forced to leave Philippi. In Philippi, he had been arrested. The town leaders in Philippi, fearing the crowds, egged on by the Jews, had asked Paul and his compatriots to leave that city. So it was that Paul came to Thessalonika the first time.

Now Paul is writing to them. Their persecution at the hands of the Jews is continuing - they are struggling. So, Paul writes to give them hope and encouragement. It is evident from Paul’s letter that some may have taken to doing things not in keeping with the faith. Some, because of their persecution and the fact that Christ’s return hadn’t happened as quickly as they hope, were perhaps losing faith. Others, were finding it difficult to deal with the pagan cultural mores of the day and were having difficulty maintaining the chastity which a life of faith demands.

It is very easy to see how we also can become despondent in our faith. Is it all true? Does God really care? I see all that happens in the world and in my life, and I doubt.

Furthermore, it is very easy for life to take over and the things of the faith get laid in the background. Idolatry is too often thought of only as worshiping another god. How many of you do that? You don’t bow down to Baal. You don’t go to the temple of Ashtoreth. You don’t pray to Buddha, Shiva, or Mohammed.

But, are any of you worshiping false gods? It is so easy to do. And, most people don’t recognize that they are doing it. What is idolatry? When anything becomes more important to us than God in Christ Jesus, we are committing idolatry, we are breaking the First Commandment.

How many Sundays does the excuse come up, I have other things to do this morning since it’s the only day I have to get them done? What and who are we worshiping? Is not every hour we have a gift of God? And, we cannot give even one back to Him?

There are many temples at which people worship. There is the woods or the stream, where time-off is spent camping, hunting, or fishing. These things need to get done in their season, and everything else - including time with God is cast aside until that season is past. I never saw a tirty pointer answer prayer. As many fish as I have caught, the trophy salmon didn’t willfully sacrifice His life to feed me for eternal life. And yet, these things often get more of our attention than God. Let’s not kid ourselves, we have our idols.

Some people worship at Lambeau field, Miller Park, or the local golf course. Christ isn’t mentioned during the week, but people can talk for hours about how they’ve gone into a depression since both Walker and Green are injured. Heaven forbid we ever talk about the sacrifice Christ made upon the cross to purchase our eternal life and forgiveness. And of course, many like to think that God understands when our priorities shift. Oh really?

We are supposed to talk about His law day and night, when we get up, when we are walking along the road, when we go to bed. Does the corner store discussion every morning ever bring up the deeds of God in Christ Jesus that wrought your salvation and eternal life? Is the beauty salon’s conversation focus upon the life of the Christian in the world? I’d say that God is a bit disappointed that we can talk about all sorts of people, but His name is usually kept out of normal everyday conversations.

Ever think of our kids as false gods, or that their sports might be? Look at all the sports centers scattered hither and yon - to many, they are little temples of weekly worship. Soccer, football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, and a host of other things take priority and God takes a back seat - if He’s even welcome at all. The excuses abound about how people want the best for their kids, to have all the things we never had. Is the cost of their eternal well-being worth the price?

The things of this life can consume us and cause us to focus upon other things than God. And yet, in spite of these things assaulting the church in Thessalonika, Paul finds reason to rejoice in His writing to them. He rejoices in what God is doing in and through them. Paul praises their work, their labor, and their endurance.

You have your good works - in fact, I see evidence of it by your presence here today. Your presence in this place is a good work, but it is a work that is brought about by faith. And your faith is nothing less than that which is worked in you by God, in Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

Each of you labors every day. You fulfill the many vocations in your life: mother, father, son, daughter, student, worker, employer, friend, and many others. By the strength of the love of God in Christ Jesus given to you, you love those around you and fulfill your labors.

In the face of all tasks, whether daunting or easy, you are given the endurance to plunge forward, inspired by the hope that is yours in Christ Jesus your Lord.

We each like to be the makers of our own destiny. We each like to think that we are responsible for our own choices. Today, Paul reminds us that as much as we like to take credit for all things, we are not responsible for them. In fact, viewing what we have, we can see that more often, we choose to turn away from God. Paul’s point is that God does not turn away from you. All that is yours is God’s gift to you. And all that you work, labor, and endure as a believer in Christ, is yours because of God’s gracious choice. God’s choosing you has such authority and power that you cannot resist it.

Paul says, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”

Today, the same has been accomplished in you. The Gospel came to you with power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction. God moved you to repent that other things take precedent in your life. He is strengthening your faith to trust what Christ accomplished with His suffering and death - that He has paid the price of your forgiveness, and it is truly yours. He strengthens your faith in the very forgiveness He grants - through a word, a meal, a blessing. This is how the Gospel comes to you in gracious gifts from God.

God graciously chooses you to be His; He unites you to Christ and makes you His brother. He fills you with His love and grants you a hope that endures through all things.

It is in Christ Jesus, your Lord and mine, that I can thank God for you all at all times, continually remembering you in my prayers before God - thankful for who you are, and what you will become eternally, in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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