"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and ye know."
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4
Part 1
Today: Will We Follow Christ or the World?
Paul loved the believers in Thessalonica, and he was concerned for their well-being both spiritually and physically. He knew that affliction and adversity had turned more than one soul away from Christ. And he wanted to be sure the tribulations they faced would not weaken their faith.
Jesus understood adversity’s power to overcome people. When He taught His parable of the four soils, He pointed this principle out with His words about the stony soil:
“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon [immediately] with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth [endureth] for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended” (Matthew 13:20-21).
We all know that when things are going well, it is not hard to stand for Christ. But let a little opposition rise, and let public opinion be turned against believers in Jesus, especially with persecution. It becomes much easier to drop away and blend in with the crowd in the world.
“As I took up life as a minister, I tried to understand why so many people resisted and rejected God. I soon realized that perhaps that main reason was affliction and suffering”[1] (Timothy Keller).
Paul was rightly concerned for the believers at Thessalonica. Will they withstand their trials and remain faithful to Jesus Christ, or will they fold because of the pressure?
“That no man should be moved.”
Paul did not want the Thessalonians to be shaken up and quit the Lord as they faced opposition and tribulation. He did not want them to “be moved.”
“Be Moved.”
“In [the Classics], as early as Homer, [this word was used] of dogs; to wag the tail, fawn….”[2] (Vincent).
To be “Flattered, as a dog flattereth, by moving his tail; the devil, by flattering you, with [a] promise of more ease by a contrary course, will but do as a dirty dog, defile you with fawning.”[3] (Trapp)
“That no man should, amidst his calamities, be allured by the flattering hope of a more pleasant life to abandon his duty”[4] (Tittman).
“…cajoled out of his faith”[5] (Elsner and Bengel).
In our text, Paul is using this word in its negative sense, “to agitate, disturb, trouble”[6] (Thayer). This makes sense because afflictions can cause us great anguish and shake us up if we are not prepared for them and take our focus off the Lord. The temptation is to take the easy way, to give in.
Believers, if we do not understand that suffering and adversity are a “normal part” of the Christian life, we will be susceptible to our faith being shaken. Beware the tail wagging and fawning of the world as they try to lure us away from our loving Christ. Let’s remember John’s caution,
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Lord, help us to stand up for you and never be moved. When the devil’s pressure comes upon us through the world, give us your grace to endure. We love you, Lord, and we need your strength to help us to stand for you. Amen.
Come back tomorrow as we learn more about standing up for Christ in our afflictions.
Quote: Paul’s response to his adversity, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:22-24).
[1] Keller’s quote Downloaded: Tuesday, August 3, 2021. From: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/affliction? Walking with God through Pain and Suffering.
[2] M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] This quote is from the Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] JFB, Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 387–388). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[5] JFB, ibid.
[6] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.