1 Thess. 2:1-12, Empty Service

Let us begin with some notes concerning the layout of Paul’s letter.

·        In 1 Thess. 1 Paul spoke of what kind of men we were among you (v5) and what manner of entry we had to you (v9).  In Ch. 2 he speaks of their coming to you (v1).

·        Chapters 2 and 3 are tied together by the “empty” theme.  Paul is concerned that his ministry to them be not in vain (2:1; 3:5), a frequent concern of Paul (1 Cor. 15:2,10; 2 Cor. 6:1;; Gal. 2:2; 4:11; Phil. 2:16).   Paul was not self-seeking in this thought.  Rather his concern was with those to whom he ministered.  They were his joy and crown (1 Th. 2:19), his boast (2 Cor. 1:14). 

·        When Paul came to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) it was to a city without a church.  Thus Paul’s ministry was what we call church-planting, a ministry he describes in 1 Th. 2:1-9.  But in v10-12 that he speaks of his behavior among the believers.  Like all Christian ministry, it involved evangelism (outreach to the unsaved) and edification (building up believers).

·        Ch. 1 emphasizes God’s work among the Thessalonians.  He loved them (v4), chose them (v4) and brought great power and deep conviction to them by His Spirit.  They believer God’s message (v8).  Ch. 2 emphasizes man’s work.  As Paul said elsewhere, God gives the increase, but He uses men to plant and water (1 Cor. 3:5-10) and those men must carry out their ministry properly.  Thus you should expect in Ch. 2 that there will be numerous opportunities for us to learn from Paul.

Ministry is vain when it is empty or useless.  We might call it ‘blowing smoke’ or ‘smoke and mirrors.’  Peter called it clouds without rain and springs without water (2 Pt. 2:17).  What can make ministry empty?

·        An impotent gospel.  If you preach another gospel, one that omits the cross (1 Cor. 1:17) or resurrection (1 Cor. 15:14) or a call to faith (Rom. 4:14) ministry will of necessity be vain (Gal. 2:2).  If we omit the gospel all-together and fill our sermons with godless chatter (1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 2:16) ministry will beempty.  I had an acquaintance tell me he was leaving the church he had grown up in because the pastor, who was known to preach more science than Bible, had not once mentioned the name “Jesus” in his Easter sermon.

·        An indolent servant.  When the servant of Christ is more the servant of money (1 Cor. 9:15) or who thinks the ministry is his production rather than that of the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10, 58) ministry will be empty.

·        An incomplete faith.  There are situations where the reception of the gospel is the problem.  For example, when faith does not produce the change (Eph. 5:3-7), the works (James 2:10) that will naturally come, then ministry has been vain.  The Galatian Church had folks who were in danger of receiving God’s grace in vain (Gal. 6:1).  Their reception was empty and thus the ministry to them was empty.

By God’s grace let us serve God in a way that our service is not in vain.