Paul uses an interesting phrase in his first letter to the Thessalonians (3:1-3). “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.”
Timothy was a common companion of Paul in his travels. He was Paul’s “son in the faith” and was both a comfort and help to him in his work. One of the practices of Paul was to send Timothy to places when Paul himself was unable to come. This is what he did for the brethren in Thessalonica.
On another occasion he determined to do the same thing for the Philippians. He wrote, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel” (Philippians 2:19-22).
In both cases we see the value he placed on edifying his brethren. This in fact was the constant concern of Paul. Everywhere he went he helped to establish churches. And, everywhere he went he returned or sent others to establish them more firmly in the faith they had received.
The motivation he expressed in the words, “when we could no longer endure it,” serves to illustrate this great concern. In fact, there is much that Paul could endure as a preacher of the gospel. He suffered imprisonments, beatings with both rods and whips, shipwreck and the opposition of those who were false in their claims to be his brethren. Why did he put up with it? “…Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Philippians 3:8-9a).
While he could put up with a great deal in his service for the Lord, he could not bear for those he had brought to Christ to falter in their faith. As such he did all in his power to ensure it did not happen! Consider these words regarding his work in Ephesus, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God … Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears” (Acts 20:27, 31).
How important are your brethren to you? If you see them faltering in some way, or suffering, does it bring you personal pain? Paul’s example shows it should! We should “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep!”
