Acts 17:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-10
After being beaten and strongly encouraged to leave Philippi, Paul and Silas land up in a large synagogue in Thessalonica where they would share their stories about being reconciled with God through the transformation that came through knowing Jesus. And while things end similarly here in Thessalonica as they did in Philippi, the resulting churches would be founded, grown and mostly made up of Greek Jewish converts.
Though Luke covered the events taking place here in Thessalonica, he stayed back in Philippi to assist the church with the work needed there. He would later join up with Paul again and no doubt take down copious notes. Paul, however, provides us with a record of his own by writing two follow up letters to the burgeoning church in Thessalonica. In these follow up letters, we learn that many in the Thessalonian church would suffer in kind due to their faith in Christ. But, they still upheld their beliefs based on the teachings of Paul and Silas’ work among them.
Work hard, give much, and refuse to be a burden
The following three values would become cemented here as Paul’s model for developing churches. Here in Thessalonica, we see that Paul and Silas both labored in full time work in addition to conducting ministry. While they could have demanded to financially benefit from their labors, they wanted ministry credibility by not being a burden to the believers there.
- Work hard: At your jobs and at your ministry.
Ministry used to be a career goal. I would know this first hand, as this was true of me. And, while I know it’s still true for many, a seismic shift is in place among churches to become lean and mean out of necessity. This new reality will only increase over time.
Paul and Silas used their trades, their skilled professions to earn an income. They earned income from their everyday jobs. They had learned skills of trade and would put them to work. They would then devote their free time to organized ministry. It’s important to note that they would minister in their jobs and in the way they carried out their work.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
— Colossians 3:23
Yes, they had to make a living, and while making a living today is much more involved–lifestyle costs and legal standards are much more complex today than they were back in Paul’s and Silas’ day–don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s a good idea to make ministry your only form of work. Now more than ever, you will be seen as a burden in the eyes of others around you, especially the believers you aim to serve.
Develop a skill set (In a trade, a science, business or in an area where there is market demand). Those pursuing music or artistic degrees for now (also my background) will likely see less opportunity from these options. I’m not saying you won’t find anything. I’m just saying it will be hard to make a living in these fields.
Work hard, in your ministry… at your jobs.
- Give much: Dedicate your lives to helping people be reconciled to God–both on and off the job. That’s what Paul and Silas modeled, and that’s what happened in the churches they organized.
The church of the future will be volunteer run. To add, volunteerism will have to assume a new level of invested leadership for the church to survive.
Yes, some churches will still have full time staff, but most will have to operate much leaner than ever before. Volunteerism will take on a new precedent.
- Refuse to be a burden: When you are free from owing others, from being a burden on others, you are more likely to speak credibility into the lives of others. Whereas, if you’re dependent on the provisions of others, you will forfeit the hard conversations that may need to be held.
While Paul and Silas certainly could make a demand of the believers in each of the churches they helped build, they knew that only a few who have fully devoted themselves to Christ would give with that mindset. Furthermore, with so many additional needs facing believers in other churches, Paul and Silas both elected to decline any personal gifts and funnel all giving to those struggling churches in need.
They refused to be a burden to those in Thessalonica, which was a huge contrast to the climate of a local city culture consumed with a mindset of privilege and entitlement. Thessalonica had a bit of a party/lazy reputation, so to see Paul and Silas step up their own work schedules, those opposed to their ministry could not level any criticism against them. They certainly weren’t lazy, nor were they interested in making a ministry paycheck.
As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:7-10
Later they would ask the impoverished church in Thessalonica to give to the struggling and persecuted church in Jerusalem, and without a second thought they gave with delight (2 Cor 8:1-5).
Paul and Silas modeled a hard work ethic, a “giving much” attitude, and they refused to be a burden on the community.
This is a great reminder for us, as we continue to labor in ministry. It’s for the long haul, keeping ever in mind that God’s inheritance is ours in Christ Jesus.