LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Metaphors of a Worker
The First Epistle to the Thessalonians is the first one written by the apostle Paul to a church. It is about a young church, which had allowed Paul to take his first steps in apostolic service. In this letter, Paul refers to the apostolic work carried out by him in Thessalonica. And in it, three attitudes and functions of the apostle can be noticed:
First, that of the wet nurse. First, the attitude of the apostle: "We used to be gentle among you, like a nurse who tenderly cares for her own children. So great was our affection for you, that we would have been willing to give you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives; for you have become dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:7). The wet nurse cares for the baby, and does so with special tenderness and affection. She provides the milk, which is the proper food for that age (1 Pet. 2:1-3). Every apostle must be able to take tender care of the children of God in this first stage of their spiritual life.
Secondly, that of the father. "Even as ye know how we exhorted and comforted every one of you, as a father doth his children, and charged you that ye should walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (1 Thess. 2:11-12). The father assumes his role after the child has grown up sufficiently, and is in a position to assume responsibilities. A child needs exhortation, comfort and also needs to take on tasks or "assignments". If the child does not receive this treatment from his father, he will grow weak and lazy.
Finally, there is the attitude of the son. "But we, brethren, separated from you for a little while, in sight but not in heart, all the more earnestly desired to see your face, for which reason we desired to come to you..." (1 Thess. 2:17-18). Here, in the original Greek, Paul uses a word that refers to a son far from home. This son (the apostle himself), desires to return to it, because that is where his most intimate affections are.
This last figure is surprising, because it shows us the apostle in a dimension of humility, attached from the heart to the brethren. His attitude here is not that of the apostle full of authority, but that of the son who longs to be at home again. The figure of the idolized apostle, unreachable for the little ones in the church, is not scriptural, but worldly; it is more the image of a ruler of the nations, than that of a servant of God.
As we see, the apostolic work is multiple and multifaceted. It brings together in itself the work of the evangelist, the pastor, the teacher and the prophet. None of this, however, is a reason for vainglory. On the contrary, it is his spiritual burden, and he must be faithful to it.
The words of the apostle continue to ring with emotion, full of sweetness: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying, are not ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? You are our glory and joy" (2:19-20). Paul's conduct among the Thessalonians is an example for all God's workers in the present day.