1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 *
Dear Friends in Christ,
As a part of our worship service last Sunday we used the
responsive prayer of the church for Advent.
One of the petitions we offered was this: “In
these days before Christmas, spare us from the stress of deadlines and the
frenzy of commercialism.”
Every year about this time we need to hear that and pray that, because, truth be told, and despite our best intentions, we can get all caught up in – and “stressed out” by – the trappings of the season. So what we prayed for last week was and is important.
But I think it’s fair to say that stress is not just
seasonal. Stress – meaning a feeling of
strain or pressure or being “under the gun” for one reason or another– is
something that most of us deal with on a regular basis. This observation has not escaped our
culture. In fact, in 21st
century
There are stress-management seminars. There are stress-relieving relaxation classes. There are countless books, tapes, and videos on “how to deal with stress.” And a recent phenomenon on college campuses throughout our country is the creation of designated “stress-free” zones. Some of these “zones” come complete with legos, play dough, coloring books and other kinds of “hands-on” stress-reducers, while other zones provide soothing music, herbal tea and aroma therapy.
If you are not averse to internet shopping, you can even order your own “Stress-Free Zero Anti-Gravity Home Massage Chair Recliner with Heat.” I am not making this up…
Our text for today is addressed to First Century Christians
living in the ancient Macedonian city of
So toward the end of his first letter to them, he writes to the Thessalonians with some very practical God-inspired counsel on how to deal with this stress in their lives. And since all of God’s Word is timeless, we also are given solid, Scriptural instruction on how to deal with the stresses and strains and setbacks and difficult situations that come into our lives. We’ll note that Paul doesn’t make any mention about deep breathing exercises or play dough or special anti-gravity chairs. Instead, in rapid-clip fashion he offers and encourages us to practice a series of truths, which we might call
A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR STRESSFUL TIMES
1. Five Stress Reducers
2. One Promise
Scriptural stress reducer #1: (16) Be joyful always.
Question: Is this possible? The Thessalonians were undergoing increasing personal and physical persecution for their faith. And while God may spare us from that, we all deal with our own painful issues. Is it possible to “be joyful always” when relationships are crumbling or children are turning wayward or health is declining or we’ve just buried a loved one or our job is on the bubble and things are beginning to look pretty bleak?
The answer is yes. But in order to understand that, we must first understand the distinction between “happiness” and “joy.” Happiness is dependent upon our circumstances, while joy is an attitude. That’s why Paul could write as he does in the Book of Philippians. He talks about his joy in knowing Christ, even though he was writing this letter from prison – a situation he wasn’t particularly happy about.
I recall hearing a story about a man from somewhere in the Orient who came to faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. As is often the case in that part of the world, because of his new faith his family cut him off and no longer spoke to him. It was hard. The people around him often would sympathize with him and for him, until one day he said: “Everybody wants to know if I can bear my pain. How come no one asks me if I can bear my joy?”
The lesson: When we focus on what we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and what we will be because of Christ, we can “be joyful always” – even in the midst of stressful and unhappy circumstances. Life events change, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). And He is our joy and delight.
Scriptural stress reducer #2: (17)
Pray continually.
Again, this must be properly understood. Paul is not suggesting non-stop engagement in prayer to the exclusion of everything else – such as work or carrying out our other God-given responsibilities. What he is suggesting is to always be in a spirit of prayer. He is encouraging us to cultivate such a relationship with God and ease of prayer that we can pray at any or all times.
Example. Among those writings considered to be classics in spiritual literature is a little volume written by and about a 17th Century Frenchman known as Brother Lawrence. The title is: “The Practice of the Presence of God.” The book suggests two things a Christian can do to cultivate a closer relationship with God. Number one is to think about Him a lot. Number two is to talk to Him a lot. That’s it.
And that’s essentially what Paul is telling us here. As we think about God and what He has done for us in Christ, and as we talk to God about what is on our hearts and minds, confident that He hears and acts upon our prayers, life – even at its most stressful times – becomes manageable.
Scriptural stress reducer #3: (18)
Give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
At first glance this is another one of those things which seems pretty hard to do, especially when life isn’t going particularly well. I believe another passage from Paul is the key to unlocking what he is telling us here…
And that is Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” When we remember this – that God has a reason for doing what He does in our lives and that this reason is for our ultimate, personal, spiritual growth and well-being – we can then ask better questions when those stressful times enter our lives. Whereas our first inclination is to ask an accusing “why,” a firm grasp of this promise moves us to ask the instructional “what.” Not, “Why is this happening to me, God?” but “What are you teaching me through this, God?”
Then periods of stressfulness are seen not as the absence of God in our lives, but a necessary part of our spiritual formation. God uses “all circumstances” to fashion us and keep us as His own “in Christ Jesus,” and for that we must thank Him.
Scriptural stress reducer #4: (19-20) Do not put out the
Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.
God the Holy Spirit creates the fire of faith within us through the Means of Grace – the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. The Holy Spirit has opened our eyes to see our utter sinfulness, our complete need for a Savior, and the work of that Savior for us in the person of Jesus Christ. A vacation Bible school song talks about “this little Gospel light of mine.” The Holy Spirit is the one who lit the wick within us. And like the Emmaus disciples remarked, our hearts “burn within us” when we contemplate Christ.
Paul tells us to build on the faith we have been given and to never treat “prophecies” – a general term meaning the Word of God – with contempt or disregard. How might we do this? A couple of ways come to mind…
When in our personal lives we treat the Word of God as a museum piece – something to be admired but not to be touched – we cut ourselves off from its power and influence. In Romans (10:17) Paul writes “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” It is impossible to overestimate the importance of staying close to the Word. To disregard the Word is to treat it with contempt.
A second way is to not live according to it. The ancient church father Chrysostum said “an impure life extinguishes the gift of grace.” In other words, if there is sin in our life – either unconfessed sin or sin which we’ve become very comfortable with or tolerant of (usually reasoning that “for the most part we live a Christian life”) – we treat God’s Word with contempt. And then we have the added stress of knowing we are not living according to the will of our Heavenly Father.
With these words Paul encourages us to recognize the Word of God for what it is – fuel for our fire. And when the fire of faith burns brightly within us, stress shrinks away because of the heat.
Final stress reducer:
(21-22) Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
The Greek word for test has to do with proving the
genuineness of a coin. In the same way,
we are to “test everything.” How?
By sifting it through the sieve of God’s Word. That which passes through we are to use. That which doesn’t, we are to “avoid.”
The Thessalonian Christians lived at a time when any number of pagan ideas and religious philosophies challenged their faith. So do we. This is the age of religious pluralism. Every religion is seen as good as the other. Today there is no truth, only personal preferences.
How do we avoid confusion? Paul encourages believers then and now to develop a Christian mind trained by the Word so we can test, determine, and then “hold on to” the truth. Jesus said when we know the truth, we are set free. The zenith our liberation is this: we are free to someday enjoy that ultimate “stress-free zone” known as heaven.
After giving us this practical survival guide for stressful times, Paul then concludes with a blessing and a promise that puts our hearts and minds even more at rest. It is the blessing of knowing that God Himself is involved in our lives, and the promise that God Himself will help us until our spiritual journey reaches completion at the final coming of Jesus Christ…
(23-24) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify
you through and through. May your whole
spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The one who calls you is
faithful, and he will do it.
This past week my wife and I received an e-mail from one of
my siblings. It had to do with some
family Christmas preparations. But what
I liked best was the closing sentiment.
This is how it ended: “Enjoy these next weeks and remember that
whatever doesn't get done doesn't really matter. The important stuff has
already been done.”
I kind of think that’s what Paul is telling us today. Whether applied to the season of Advent or
all the seasons of life, Paul is telling us there is no reason to get
stressed. And if we do, then use the
Scriptural stress reducers God has provided.
But most of all, Paul would have us just remember this: The important stuff has already been
done. Which means we can relax. Amen.