Care
Share Your Life Before You Share Your Answers
SCRIPTURE:
1 Thessalonians 2:8 CSB - We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
OBSERVATION:
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” The quote underscores the importance of demonstrating genuine concern and compassion before conveying knowledge or expertise.
Care, concern, and compassion before conveying knowledge. This is an important principle to learn. Paul would say that before he conveyed the message he needed to bring to the Thessalonians, he made it a point to care. Not just care, but to show genuine concern and compassion for them.
He not only shared the gospel (the most important), but he also shared his life. He was willing to serve them with love, compassion, and care.
Sometimes, in our concern for others, we go straight to conveying knowledge. “Here is what you need to do to fix the problem!” “If you change this, God will do this.” We tend to focus on the problem rather than the person facing it.
In Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul makes it clear that he genuinely cares for them. He was willing to do anything for them, and he did.
The NKJV uses the words “affectionately longing for” for the word care.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 CSB - We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
OBSERVATION:
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” The quote underscores the importance of demonstrating genuine concern and compassion before conveying knowledge or expertise.
Care, concern, and compassion before conveying knowledge. This is an important principle to learn. Paul would say that before he conveyed the message he needed to bring to the Thessalonians, he made it a point to care. Not just care, but to show genuine concern and compassion for them.
He not only shared the gospel (the most important), but he also shared his life. He was willing to serve them with love, compassion, and care.
Sometimes, in our concern for others, we go straight to conveying knowledge. “Here is what you need to do to fix the problem!” “If you change this, God will do this.” We tend to focus on the problem rather than the person facing it.
In Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul makes it clear that he genuinely cares for them. He was willing to do anything for them, and he did.
The NKJV uses the words “affectionately longing for” for the word care.
“A term of endearment derived from the language of the nursery.” It denotes the warm affection and tender yearning that the missionaries felt for their spiritual babes at Thessalonica. – D. Edmond Hiebert
APPLICATION:
As we live our lives out daily as children of God, let us not just come across as knowing everything, having all the answers to the world’s problems (we do – it’s the gospel of Jesus Christ), and getting frustrated when they don’t see it. Let us show that we care, are concerned for them, and extend compassion and empathy to a lost and hurting world.
Remember, the gospel is a message of HOPE, FREEDOM, and FORGIVENESS in Jesus Christ. Let us share the truth in love and, at the same time, show that we care. Like Paul with the Thessalonians, let us – “care so much that we are pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you are dear to us.”
PRAYER:
Jesus, give us Your heart for those in our world. May we love them with the gospel, care for them, and share our concerns for their lives, all with compassion, mercy, grace, truth, and, most importantly, You.
As we live our lives out daily as children of God, let us not just come across as knowing everything, having all the answers to the world’s problems (we do – it’s the gospel of Jesus Christ), and getting frustrated when they don’t see it. Let us show that we care, are concerned for them, and extend compassion and empathy to a lost and hurting world.
Remember, the gospel is a message of HOPE, FREEDOM, and FORGIVENESS in Jesus Christ. Let us share the truth in love and, at the same time, show that we care. Like Paul with the Thessalonians, let us – “care so much that we are pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you are dear to us.”
PRAYER:
Jesus, give us Your heart for those in our world. May we love them with the gospel, care for them, and share our concerns for their lives, all with compassion, mercy, grace, truth, and, most importantly, You.
People aren't looking for someone who has all the answers — they're looking for someone who genuinely cares, and that's what opens the door for the gospel to be heard.
Posted in 13 - 1 Tessalonians
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