I Thessalonians 3
By Pastor Libby
What makes it worth it?
At different junctures in my ministry I have had people tell me, “I wouldn’t do your job, even for all the tea in China!” Now I don’t really know about “all the tea in China…” (I do like tea!) But I do know that to be involved in ministry there has to be more than a monetary reimbursement. Ministry can be hard. Life can be hard. For anyone to fully function in either or both there has to be an emotional benefit or tie in as well.
Here in I Thessalonians 3, we are privy to the fact that Paul has suffered and faced persecution in life and in his ministry. Through these trials he was wont to know how the Thessalonians were doing in their new found faith. So, he sends Timothy to find out, and Timothy brings back a glowing report.
The Thessalonians in standing firm in their faith encourage Paul to keep doing what he is doing. The persecution and tough times seem less tough when those you are ministering to really “get it.”
The other day as I was talking to the receptionist at the doctor’s office, she shared with me, the conversation of a Sunday lunch with her granddaughter of seven. Kylie attended our Kid’s Worship that morning and Grandma asked her what we she had learned. With absolute clarity and purpose the little girl shared that we had talked about anger and how sometimes it is best to just walk away rather than act out, give ourselves some time to cool down and talk to Jesus about what is going on. As that Grandmother shared with me what her granddaughter had taken away that morning, I was humbled and near tears. There are many times that a minster leaves worship and wonders, “Did anyone really get it this morning?”
Those moments when Christ breaks through and lives are changed in an adult or a child’s life; those are the moments that make it all worthwhile. No amount of “tea in China” can speak to that particular motivation.
