“Now
we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted,
uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
–
1 Thessalonians 5:14
Exposition:
In the family of God, some
are mature and wise, others are young and energetic, yet many are children and
so childish, nay, babes in Christ. We are not all of equal stature and
strength. Some may need to be carried in arms, others may need to be led by their
hand, yet many may need spoon-feeding until they can develop the conviction of
their own. Paul mentioned four groups of people in this verse:
The brethren,
who are more mature and have the most responsibility. They are not to lord over
the less mature ones, rather they must be a model for the edification of the
body of Christ. The unruly ones who need confrontation and correction not
only for their own good, but also to not let a little leaven leavens the whole
lump. The fainthearted ones who are bogged down by trials and
suffering (like the loss of loved ones in Thessalonica) might be tempted to
doubt the goodness of God; they need help, comfort and encouragement. The weak
ones who are naïve and easily swayed by every wind of doctrines need
much support and instruction.
Regardless of the group
you belong to, you sometimes find yourself in every group. We all have strong
and weak points. Nobody is perfect, everyone needs to exercise patience with
one another. Besides, even the most mature ones were once babies, and they need
to recall the patience others had on them. Remember the patience of Jesus Christ
towards His disciples and the people of His days. Our God remains patient with
us even to this day.
Personal Reflection:
· Who
are the most mature people that I may hang out with for my spiritual growth? Who
are the discouraged ones who may need my encouragement? Have I been kind to my
weaker brothers and sisters in Christ?
Personal Commitment:
· To
cultivate the virtue of patience.
Prayer:
Help
me, Lord, to develop more patience towards all, Amen!