If you were the first person to come across a house or an apartment building on fire, what would you do? Most people would first call emergency to summon the fire department. Then they might try to notify the residents of the house or building, calling out warnings of a fire so they will safely get out. It wouldn’t matter that we didn’t know these people, that they weren’t our best friends or family. What would we think of someone who couldn’t be bothered to try and warn the residents, or someone who said that they didn’t know them and didn’t want to be late for their manicure appointment? Do they have so little love for their fellow man? In our Scripture for today Paul urges the believers to increase their love for other Christians and also for everyone. Let’s look into our passage.
Our Scripture opens with Paul reminding the Thessalonian church of how important they are to him, and how thankful he is for them and their faith (vs. 9). Are we thankful for our fellow believers, both those in our own individual church, our Christian circle of friends, and also fellow Christians around the world that we do not know personally?
Do we have a love for other Christians? One way we can show our love for our brothers and sisters in the faith, that Paul mentions here, is to pray for one another (vs. 10). When we lift other believers in prayer, we show our care and concern as we remember their needs. Is someone in our church critically ill, someone else needing a job, or having serious financial needs? As we pray for them, the Lord may put it upon our hearts to put some feet to our prayers, to do what we can to help them out. Many of the churches who prayed for Paul and his ministry also helped him out financially. When Paul was in prison, many stood with him in prayer, and also sent him clothing and other items he needed while behind bars (II Timothy 4:13).
Sometimes it is difficult to love some of our fellow Christians. Sometimes certain members of our church might really get on our nerves. They argue and are difficult in church meetings, always seeming to be oppositional, wanting things their way. They may be critical of our own service to the Lord, saying we aren’t doing the work correctly, or are not qualified, etc. They may even spread rumors and lies about us. However, nowhere in this passage, nor anywhere else in Scripture does the Lord give us exceptions to His command to love our fellow Christians, including the cantankerous, the mean, and those who are just different from us.
As Paul encourages us to increase our love for each other (fellow believers), he also tells us to increase our love for all others (vs. 12). Here is where we really show how well we are following the Lord Jesus or not. Most people don’t have any problem with showing love for their family or friends. And often it is not difficult to love our fellow believers, as we have a mutual love for the Savior and things of the Lord. But love other people, the non-believers, the sinful people of the world? Those who oppose us, the abusers, the cheats, the drug addicts, the criminals? Those are all people Jesus came to die for, and He wants His children to love them just as He does.
How can we show these others that we love them? This world is filled with people being selfish, cold, and heartless. This should not be the case with Christians. The unsaved neighbors should see a difference in our behavior, a kindness and caring that is so rarely seen in others. Even little things like giving up that parking spot, or letting someone pull in front of you in traffic. When shoveling the snow on your sidewalk, shovel the unsaved neighbor’s too, or mow their lawn when you do yours. They will know we are Christians by our love (John 13:35).
The most important way to show love for the lost is by telling them about the Lord Jesus Christ, by sharing the Gospel message with them. We need to be telling the world about Jesus and the salvation He offers. We know that what awaits those who die without the Savior is an eternity in hell. We know that, and yet so often we don’t bother to say anything because it is uncomfortable or socially awkward. That is like walking past that burning building and saying nothing to those inside! How much do we have to hate someone to not witness to them? How much do we have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible, and yet not tell them that?!
Don’t let your unsaved family, neighbors, and those you are acquainted with perish because you couldn’t be bothered to tell them about Jesus. Remember that burning building with people inside. You know what’s happening. They don’t. You wouldn’t just turn away without warning them, would you? Don’t do that for those facing an eternity in hell, either.
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