The apostle Paul obviously considered the church in Thessalonica to be a faithful congregation. “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4). They had received the gospel of the Lord from Paul and others, and through their obedience to it had become “examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (1:7).
The concept of faithfulness is married to an acceptance of truth, coupled with an effort to conform to it. Consider Paul’s description of the Christians in Thessalonica, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus” (1:13-14).
The Thessalonian church had welcomed and assimilated the truth of God in their lives. They were following the example of other faithful churches, and as such, they serve as a wonderful example for us to emulate as well. With that in mind, consider verse 3 in the first chapter of the letter. “…your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”
Work of Faith
Their life of faith is seen by the testimony of outsiders. When Paul came to Thessalonica in Acts 17, the unbelieving Jews became angry. When they couldn’t find Paul to punish him, they vented their frustration upon some of the brethren in the city. They dragged them to the marketplace, and accused them before the public, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus” (17:6-7). While their faithfulness caused them to be reviled by some, it is notable that they were “all acting contrary” to the expectations of men in serving their Lord.
Their work included evangelism, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1:8). It also included their edifying one another, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (5:11).
Labor of Love
The call to love one another as brethren is a central tenet of the Christian faith. “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11). The Thessalonians serve as a wonderful example of this virtue, “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia” (4:9-10).
A demonstration of that is found in their benevolent efforts on behalf of the saints. Paul referred to them along with the other churches of Macedonia in a letter to the Corinthians. “that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4).
Patience of Hope
It is a telling aspect of their faithfulness that they maintained it despite the difficult circumstances of their existence. Paul wrote his letters to Thessalonica as they suffered significant persecution. Paul noted that just as the Judean Christians were mistreated, “you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen” (2:14).
While the persecution was difficult, the Thessalonians persevered in hope. They waited for the return of the Lord. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (4:16-18).
Conclusion
The church in Thessalonica was a faithful church, not a perfect church. For example, some were walking in a disorderly fashion. Paul even indicated that a persistence in their sin would justify a withdrawal of fellowship on the part of the faithful, (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:6). There was a constant need for warning, comforting, upholding and patience (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:14).
However, their work, faith and hope held them in good stead. In this, they serve as a wonderful example to us today. What about our congregation? Are we faithful? Are we a positive example to other churches?
