First Thessalonians hits home, part 2
I'm sharing a couple thoughts from the apostle Paul's first letter to the Thessalonian church. For five weeks in February and March, I had the chance to preach this short letter. I'm sharing a couple things that stood out and encouraged me as I lived in this text. Here's the second:
(2) How we live in the world makes a real difference. I've caught a few episodes of a new show on the Food Network. It's called "Restaurant Stakeout." Have you seen it?
This TV show features a restaurant expert named Willie Degel from NYC. Willie believes that cameras are a critical component of employee management. He believes that employees who know they are being watched have a better chance of living up to the expectations placed on them. The show highlights a struggling restaurant whose owners bring in Willie to advise them on how to turn things around. He places hidden cameras throughout the restaurant and watches for a day or two with the owners so that they can see what really happens.
It makes for fascinating television to watch totally rude and inappropriate behavior from employees on various levels. Some sort of chaos often reveals itself.
Willie said an interesting thing in the last episode, "Paint by Numbers." He told the naive owners that one negative experience will drive away 100 customers, while a positive experience doesn't usually do more than bring that customer back -- along with maybe a family member. He said that it only takes a little inattention to kill your business. Growing your business, on the other hand, requires constant monitoring and assessing of behaviors and actions. Building a reputation is painstaking work. Tearing down a reputation takes very little. (See Ozzie Guillen or any other obvious example.)
Interestingly, Paul says nearly the same thing in First Thessalonians about Christian behavior. First, he notes that the Thessalonians have received such joy from the Holy Spirit that others talk about them (1:6-7). All "the people of the [surrounding] regions" are abuzz about their commitment to God and to his people (1:9). After persecution caused Paul to quickly leave Thessaloniki, he sent Timothy back to check on them. Timothy reported that their Godly faith and love were still strong even in Paul's absence (3:6). Their behavior was still good even without their "spiritual father" there to look over their shoulders. This is the ideal that God wants.
The key section in this regard is 4:1-12. Paul bracketed these words with peripateo, the Greek word for "walk" or "live." In 4:1, he wrote that they should continue to do just as they learned how they ought to live. Then in 4:12, he told them that their life choices allow them to live (behave) properly toward outsiders. The central thought in this passage is that God is watching their behavior and that God will discipline them for any actions that hurt others (4:6). God is the ultimate "boss" who expects nothing but the best from us (4:8).
The truth is that our lives make a difference. We may not win a million converts by living with integrity and holiness. But we will certainly drive countless people away from the Lord if we wear the name of Christ yet embarrass him with our actions. How we live in this world really does make a difference.
(2) How we live in the world makes a real difference. I've caught a few episodes of a new show on the Food Network. It's called "Restaurant Stakeout." Have you seen it?
This TV show features a restaurant expert named Willie Degel from NYC. Willie believes that cameras are a critical component of employee management. He believes that employees who know they are being watched have a better chance of living up to the expectations placed on them. The show highlights a struggling restaurant whose owners bring in Willie to advise them on how to turn things around. He places hidden cameras throughout the restaurant and watches for a day or two with the owners so that they can see what really happens.
It makes for fascinating television to watch totally rude and inappropriate behavior from employees on various levels. Some sort of chaos often reveals itself.
Willie said an interesting thing in the last episode, "Paint by Numbers." He told the naive owners that one negative experience will drive away 100 customers, while a positive experience doesn't usually do more than bring that customer back -- along with maybe a family member. He said that it only takes a little inattention to kill your business. Growing your business, on the other hand, requires constant monitoring and assessing of behaviors and actions. Building a reputation is painstaking work. Tearing down a reputation takes very little. (See Ozzie Guillen or any other obvious example.)
Interestingly, Paul says nearly the same thing in First Thessalonians about Christian behavior. First, he notes that the Thessalonians have received such joy from the Holy Spirit that others talk about them (1:6-7). All "the people of the [surrounding] regions" are abuzz about their commitment to God and to his people (1:9). After persecution caused Paul to quickly leave Thessaloniki, he sent Timothy back to check on them. Timothy reported that their Godly faith and love were still strong even in Paul's absence (3:6). Their behavior was still good even without their "spiritual father" there to look over their shoulders. This is the ideal that God wants.
The key section in this regard is 4:1-12. Paul bracketed these words with peripateo, the Greek word for "walk" or "live." In 4:1, he wrote that they should continue to do just as they learned how they ought to live. Then in 4:12, he told them that their life choices allow them to live (behave) properly toward outsiders. The central thought in this passage is that God is watching their behavior and that God will discipline them for any actions that hurt others (4:6). God is the ultimate "boss" who expects nothing but the best from us (4:8).
The truth is that our lives make a difference. We may not win a million converts by living with integrity and holiness. But we will certainly drive countless people away from the Lord if we wear the name of Christ yet embarrass him with our actions. How we live in this world really does make a difference.
Comments
Sincerely,
Brian C Pace
see also: http://firstthess.blogspot.com for a small write up on this commentary.