PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

BEREAVED OF THE SAINTS

In verse 17 Paul goes on to say, "But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a little while in presence, not in heart were more abundantly eager with much desire to see your face." This word implies that the apostles considered the new converts precious and dear to them. Paul likened their departure from them to a bereavement, a loss they suffered from being separated from them and that caused them to miss them. In this verse we also see the apostles' yearning over the new converts.

In verse 17 Paul seems to be saying, "Brothers, we have been bereaved of you. We wanted to stay with you, and we miss you very much. But although we are bereaved of you in presence, we are not bereaved of you in heart. In our heart we are still with you. We are very eager with much desire to see your face."

Paul's word in verses 15 through 17 is emotional. Because he was emotional, he could touch the emotion of others. When Paul spoke about the Jews negatively, he was emotional. Likewise, when he spoke about the apostles positively, he was also very emotional. Paul's expression of deep emotion caused the believers to love the apostles and to shut out the Judaizers. This too is related to fostering children, to protecting them, to raising them without their being damaged by negative things….

HOPE, JOY, AND CROWN

In verses 19 and 20 Paul concludes, "For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Are not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." The Greek word rendered coming in verse 19 is parousia, a word that means presence. The Lord's coming is His presence with us. In this light these two earlier Epistles were written. Every chapter of the first Epistle ends with the Lord's coming back.

Verse 20 indicates that since the apostles were the believers' nursing mother and exhorting father (vv. 7, 11), the believers, as their children, were their glory and joy. Apart from them, the apostles had no hope, glory, or crown of boasting.

Here Paul seems to be saying, "You are our hope, our joy, and our crown of boasting. Brothers, we are here only for you; we are not here for anything else. If we do not have you, we do not have anything. You are our hope, even as your hope is the Lord's coming back. Without you, at the Lord's coming back we shall be short of joy and glory. We need you! You are our hope, our joy, our crown, and our glory before the Lord Jesus at His coming." Once again Paul expressed deep emotion in caring for his children. He certainly was a father exhorting his children. As such an exhorting father, it seems as if Paul was saying, "Children, we are here only for you. Without you, life is meaningless. If it were not for you, we would not want even to live." Such a word from parents is deeply touching; it touches the heart of the children.

Would you not be touched deeply if your parents wrote such a word to you? Would you not be touched if they said that without you life is meaningless, that they are living on earth only for you? No doubt, when you heard or read such a word, your tears would flow. This kind of speaking fosters children and helps them to grow.

As a good father, Paul knew how to touch the heart of his children. If you are able to touch the heart of others, you will be successful in fostering their growth. The best way to foster others is to touch their heart deeply.

(Witness Lee, Life-Study of 1 Thessalonians, Message 13, pp. 107-116)

APPLICATION

1. What should be our primary focus in the care of our children?

2. In what ways do children learn and grow by imitating the life and living of their parents?

3. How can you apply practically the burden fostering your children according to the principles in this issue?