Increasing and Overflowing(1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)                                                2010.02.21                                Pastor Edward Cheng 

For several weeks now we’ve been looking through 1 Thessalonians, and we’ve found that Paul writes this letter with more compassion and more personal feeling than in other letters, probably because it was not meant to be a circulating letter.  As we read it, we ask ourselves, what are the kinds of attitudes that Christian servants should have?  Whatever it is that you do for the service of the body of Christ, it has to come from love.  This love involves a concern for the spiritual wellbeing of one another, a love that makes Paul long to come back to the Thessalonians to continue teaching and serving them, manifested in consistent, fervent prayer. 

Love continues to be a prominent theme in chapter 3.  Paul hints at the idea that we can measure spiritual vitality and life by the overflow of love.  The flip side is true, too—we can measure spiritual weakness or struggling by a lack of love.  Where are we at when it comes to spiritual vitality?

Look at v. 6.  The first thing we find out is that spiritual growth is a priority for the Thessalonians.  Now in the last section we read that Paul tried over and over to return to them—specifically to “supply what is lacking in your faith” (v. 10).  He didn’t just want to take a vacation; he wanted to fill up what he didn’t finish before.  He was unable to go, so he sent Timothy instead, and now in v. 6 Timothy has brought “good news” of them—that they are growing.  This “good news” is the same term as “gospel,” implying that the good news is about their growing in the gospel.  Another key term in the verse is “just as” or “in the same way,” meaning that the way in which Paul wants to see them is to supply what is lacking in their faith—and the Thessalonians want to see him again for the same reason.  They know that they are not self-sufficient, that they need stronger roots to withstand temptation, and they want Paul to complete their spiritual training as much as he wants to.  They put spiritual matters, spiritual growth, as their priority, perhaps even ahead of their own safety, or financial stability.  Where are our priorities?  We do not need to ignore our families, or jobs, but are we willing to go out of our way for spiritual growth?  Are we eager to take advantage of the opportunities we have for spiritual growth, such as Bible studies, Sunday school, retreats?

The spiritual growth that the Thessalonians want is not just for their further information.  They are not after more Bible trivia.  It is to strengthen them and deepen their roots so that when Satan attacks, they will not fall down.  In v. 7-8 Paul says, “now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”  This strengthening has two purposes.  When we grow, it encourages those who have poured themselves into our lives to help us grow.  And it serves as the mark of genuine salvation—we read in v. 13 that Paul wants the Thessalonians to continue standing firm: “May he strengthen your hearts….” This strengthening is a lifelong process; there is no point at which our roots have gone deep enough. 

In v. 11-12, we find out that the strengthening of our faith and the overflow of our love go hand in hand.  I can measure my own spiritual priority and spiritual strength by the love that I demonstrate to you, in the church community, and to others.  The love that we show one another and to other people needs to be the calling card of a group that desires to have and demonstrate spiritual strength.  This is a measure for ourselves—not something to judge others by. 

In these several verses, we learn first that spiritual strength needs to be a priority for us.  It is totally in our control.  You can contribute to your own spiritual growth—you can take advantage of the things the church provides, read spiritual books, listen to spiritual teachings.  Secondly, we find out that spiritual growth results for the purpose of the strengthening of our faith.  Think of the term “standing firm,” as in a tree with deep roots which will not fall over.  Finally, we find out that this strengthening goes hand in hand with the love we have for each other and for others outside the church.