On this music celebration Sunday I want to continue to look at Paul’s ‘First
Letter to the Thessalonians’. Last week we saw how in the first chapter Paul gave thanks for the perseverance of the
Thessalonian Church during a difficult time. He praised them for responding
to God’s Call. He was pleased to see their concern for spiritual growth. He was delighted by the way they were allowing
Christ to transform their lives.
In this second chapter
He remains thankful for their faithfulness, and continues to encourage them to make their life-song their relationship with
God.
Paul wants them to know that
despite all their difficulties, God would give the victory. God had, after all, permitted him and his evangelists both
to travel to Thessalonica and touch a few who were now strong in faith and God had delivered them to travel onward
to proclaim the Good News in other places.
Rumbling
behind the scenes in this passage is the fact that there were those who were seeking to discredit Paul. They have upset the
congregation. The only defense Paul has is the example of his own life. He reminds them of how it was he came to them and
of how he acted whilst he was with them.
1)
The way he lived backed up the song he sang
Although Paul was only with
the Thessalonians for a short while there was something about him that left a deep impression. So much of an impression that
within a short time they were prepared to risk their lives to defend him and see to it that he could continue on his missionary
journeys.
They witnessed his boldness
in the face of opposition. They witnessed, as day after day, he counseled with people and on the Sabbath entered into debate
with them, that here was a man who truly believed in his words and showed evidence of having his own life transformed by Jesus
Christ.
The content of his message
was clear. Jesus Christ was the One the Old Testament scriptures pointed to as the Messiah. In accordance with what the scriptures
proclaimed He suffered and died, and was raised from death. Paul, the one time enemy of Christ, was now a witness to the resurrection
and sought for others to know God’s love in Christ -through the Holy Spirit working in their lives.
He is quite clear that what
he had done amongst them was not for personal gain. If that were the case he could have made much of the fact. In verse 6
he explains: “We could have made demands as apostles of Christ.” But no demands are made. His mission
was in no way a pretext to advance his personal status.
The most pressing evidence
for the genuineness of his mission was the fact that he didn’t have to be there for any other reason than he felt God
had entrusted him with the task of preaching the gospel, and he was prepared to give all, to be faithful in fulfilling that
which he was called to.
The way he lived backed up
the song he sang. As we meet today to celebrate the musical gifts of our congregation we do well to ask: how well do our lives
reflect the message our music carries?
Which leads us to a second
thing…
2) He was more
concerned about His song being accepted by God than being approved
of by people.
In verse 4 he says, “We
speak not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts.”
Maybe that is the most challenging
statement of all to consider in this passage. As we consider our own lives, as disciples of Jesus Christ, are we more concerned
about being acceptable to God, or about the approval of others? As we sing songs of praise, who are we trying to please? Who
are we singing for?
We can go through our whole
life as people pleasers. Always concerned about what so-and-so may think or what such a person may make of us. There are times
when it is a legitimate concern. If we go for an interview for a job, we try to make the best impression that we can, for
we seek to be approved for the position we are applying for.
But living our whole life
as though we were attending an interview or taking an audition is not advisable. In verse 6 Paul says, “We did not
seek praise from men, whether from you or from others.” He’s crystal clear about whom he’s trying to
be acceptable to. The desire for his life was to live life the way God wanted him to live.
His life song was all about God.
The Thessalonians were catching
on. Why? Because Paul took the time to show them. Because Paul wasn’t about selling himself, but was sold out for Jesus
Christ. All he wanted to do was pass it on. Paul knew that all those who had accepted God’s message were like children
needing nurture and help. And they accepted the message from him. Because they also knew a third thing;
3) He had genuine love and concern
for those He shared the gospel with.
They
cared about what Paul said because they knew Paul cared about them.
Paul
cared about them, because He knew that God cared about him.
It’s
all about relationship.
Our
relationship with God and our relationship with each other.
It
all fits in with what Jesus said were the two most important commandments of all, “Love God” and “Love your
neighbor as yourself.”
Paul
tells them in the last line we had from our reading, “Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased
to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”
As
we today make music and celebrate God’s goodness, let us do so out of love for God and love for one another. Let us
celebrate our music as a way of reaching others with the love of the one who gave the song and the voice to sing it, who inspired
the music and gave the talent to share it.
One
of the songs I requested for our Music Sunday was the campfire favorite ‘Pass it On’. I did so for a couple of
reasons. One is that this year the Presbyterian Church (USA) is celebrating a
hundred years of camp and conference ministries. As we celebrate our music ministry it seemed appropriate to celebrate that
which takes place beyond our walls!
Secondly
I chose that song because it fitted so well with this chapter from Thessalonians. The third verse seems to capture Paul’s
desire as he ministered to them…
“I wish for you my friends, this happiness that I’ve found,
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound,
I’ll shout it from the mountain top; I want the world to know,
The Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.”
1. Let the life you live enforce the songs you sing.
2. Be more concerned about being accepted by God than for the approval of people.
3. Let your love be genuine.
That’s
how you get the fire going.
Pass it On!
May God help
us to be the sort of people God desires.
AMEN.
