Living Room Study

1 Thessalonians 4

“Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God – as you are doing – do so even more.”  1 Thessalonians 4: 1

There are basically two types of slaves:  those forced into it, and those who willingly apply for it.

Many people have an inappropriate view of Jewish Biblical slave life.  They have the Alex Haley “Roots” and Cecil B. DeMille  “10 Commandments” views, where the slaves are constantly beaten.  Of course, the Israelite slaves in Egypt and under foreign oppression were beaten.  But within the nation of Israel, there was a voluntary slavery, which was not usually physically brutal. 

I’m not making a case for slavery.  I believe it’s cruel and inhumane.  I’m just saying that Paul’s use of slave imagery was received in a more positive light in his day, than in ours.  Jewish slaves within the national Hebrew life were more respected and treated better than those, of say, the American Civil War slaves.

Accounts given by former slaves after the U.S. civil war told of how they got through the day.  The overall goal was to do as little as possible, but just enough to avoid the whip.  That is, they didn’t want to honor their oppressors, yet they didn’t want to provoke them either. 

There are some Christians who have adopted the “forced slave” mentality.  They want to know exactly how much “Jesus” it takes to avoid Hell, without having to serve the Master, by living a Christ-centered life.

Who has forced us to believe in Christ, that we would take that attitude?  Have we not chosen, of our own freewill, to be His slaves and servants on this earth?  Why then, would we settle to do as little as possible with our Christian lives and simply skate through life?  Why would we not give ourselves in faithful thanksgiving that God has invited us to serve Him?

Paul addresses the believers in Thessalonica by encouraging the progress they had made.  But Paul goes further.  He says, “As you are doing – do so even more.”  While there are legitimate times of rest and refreshment, the momentum of our lives should always be moving forward and upward.  We have come a long way since the Living Room began, God be praised!  Here’s our challenge: Let’s go further!

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins