Christian Responsibilities

Christian Responsibilities

1 Thess. 5:12-28

In this world there are many people who want to be leaders. The fact is not everyone is qualified to be a leader. On top of that, it is of necessity that there be more followers than leaders. You’ve heard the expression “too many chiefs and not enough Indians!” That’s what happens when too many people try to be involved in leadership instead of following the leader or leaders.

The same goes for the church. While there is much said about leadership in the New Testament, there are some things said regarding the principles of being a follower. When Jesus called His disciples, He said “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:19). Simon and Andrew didn’t argue that they wouldn’t be leading; they followed Jesus and so did the sons of Zebedee. When Paul was closing out his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, it seemed as if he was mainly targeting those in the congregation who were under the eldership. Those of us who are under elderships need to understand what our Christian responsibilities are. We can understand a great deal from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28.

Responsibilities to Your Elders

As Paul goes through this list of responsibilities for the Christians at Thessalonica, he begins with those pertaining to the attitudes toward the eldership.

Appreciate Them

These men who were the shepherds of the congregation deserve appreciation for their work, their authority and their instruction. The work of an elder is truly a labor, as Paul describes it in this passage. Whether it’s pertaining to refuting false doctrine (Tit. 1:9), taking care of the church (1 Tim. 3:5), etc., they need to be appreciated for what they do. Paul not only talks about how they diligently labor, but he also mentions their authority over the congregation in the Lord. Peter says that the elders are in charge over those allotted to them in the congregation (1 Pet. 5:3). They should also be appreciated for the instruction they give. One of the qualifications of an elder is “...able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). When is the last time you told your elders you appreciate them? They have a very hard job, and appreciation helps them continue their task.

Esteem Them Very Highly

Paul says they are to do this because of their work. Paul already alluded to their labor, but consider it again from the standpoint of why the congregation should esteem them highly. They keep watch over our souls and they will have to give an account for those under their care (Heb. 13:17). They are to be on guard for the flock as our shepherds (Acts 20:28). They are to shepherd and oversee the congregation, all while being a good example (1 Pet. 5:2-3). Knowing all of this ought to make us esteem them very highly.

Live in Peace with One Another

It doesn’t seem like a coincidence this is placed among the responsibilities toward elders. Imagine what can happen if you have a group of people who don’t appreciate their elders nor esteem them very highly. It is not going to be a very pretty picture. These are some responsibilities toward your elders.

With these responsibilities in mind, think about what the writer of Hebrews says about it: “Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). It seems that their doing it with joy and not with grief is tied with how we follow them. Leadership often gets critiqued, but how often do followers get critiqued in the church? How are we doing as followers under our eldership at North View?

Responsibilities to Your Brethren

Paul told the Thessalonians that they also had responsibilities to the brethren; more than likely most of these are meant within the congregation. Notice what he says: “...admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no one repay another with evil for evil, but always seek after which is good for one another and for all men” (14-15). In context, it seems the unruly people would include those that Paul would label as busybodies in the second letter. The fainthearted might include those who were grieving from the belief their dead loved ones would miss out on the second coming. There are those in a congregation who are weaker and stronger (Rom. 15:1). We do have to be patient with all men, as this is even something that preachers have to practice (2 Tim. 4:2). We are not to enforce payback on others. Instead of retaliating, we are to let God do His thing (Rom. 12:19)

These are things that we all must look in the mirror to see how we are doing. If I ask this morning at North View, how would we as a congregation measure up in fulfilling these responsibilities? Let’s make sure we are being the responsible Christians we should be toward the brethren.

Responsibilities to Yourself

After telling them what they should do toward the elders and other Christians, Paul gives instructions about their responsibilities toward themselves. “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (16-22). We can always find something to rejoice in as a Christian, despite what may be going wrong in our life. We need to always be ready to pray. It doesn’t matter when or where, God will hear your prayer. It’s not like a phone call; God will never put you on hold. We can always be thankful; not for everything, but in every circumstance. The commands not to quench the Spirit and not to despise prophetic utterances seem to be in relation to the miraculous gifts, therefore not applicable to us today. A careful examination of everything is applicable, as we need to be more like the Bereans as they were “examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Too many people accept teachings from men which are not according to the Bible, swallowing it without thought. The last time I checked when you eat fried chicken you examine it so you don’t eat the bones. I just finished reading the book Muscle and a Shovel by Michael Shank. One of the things he shared in his journey through the Scriptures was that he came to the realization that he had taken people’s words over God’s Word as his basis of spiritual truth. The last item Paul brings up to the Thessalonians is that of abstaining from the many forms of evil. Satan is alive and well and we know he uses these to his advantage in tempting us.

Are we fulfilling these responsibilities to ourselves? Are we fulfilling these responsibilities to our brethren? Are we fulfilling these responsibilities to our elders? Let’s make sure we are doing what we need to as faithful followers at the North View Church of Christ. Read 23-24 of our text. Don’t you want to be found without blame at the second coming? He is coming back, because Paul said He’s faithful to bring it to pass. How will you be found as a follower of Jesus Christ? Let’s make sure to take our Christian responsibilities seriously!