Like a father

For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil; for labouring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.  – 1 Thessalonians 2.9-12

The other day we looked at Paul’s care for the church being like a nursing mother. Here we see another illustration – that of a father caring for his children.

I like the way Paul describes their behaviour. He said that the readers would have seen:

How devoutly they behaved

How blamelessly they behaved

How they exhorted

How they comforted

How they instructed

And they did all this like a good father teaches his children.

Like a proper the missionary team set an example by their godly. Like fathers they sought to bring these new believers up in the ‘nurture and admonition of the Lord as they exhorted and comforted and instructed their spiritual children.

He says one more thing. He reminds them that they did not want to be a burden. I certainly understand that. As a dad and now a grampy the last thing I ever want to do is to be a burden to my children. 

Those of us who are little older in the faith have some responsibilities. They are illustrated by the roles of parents. Are we fulfilling our responsibilities?