Laboring Day and Night 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Paul the apostle and his companions were so “affectionately desirous” of the Thessalonians, they were “willing” not only to share “the gospel of God” with them, but also their “own souls” if the occasion arose. In chapter two and verse nine, Paul continued to share their deep commitment to the Thessalonican church members as he refers to their “laboring day and night” among them. We read:

For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

The verse begins, “For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day,...” Paul began with the phrase, “For you remember” or “are mindful of, call to mind, hold in memory and make mention of” “brethren” which means “fellow believers united by the bond of affection” “our labor” which is the Greek word “kopos” and literally means “a beating” and refers to “a beating of the breast with grief, sorrow, trouble and intense labor united with trouble and toil” “and travail” or “hard and difficult labor, toil, hardship and distress”. Paul then gives the timescale of their laboring and travail, “for laboring” which is another Greek word “ergazomai” that means “work, trade, exercise, perform and commit, produce, earn and acquire” “night and day” which means “until the work ceases and the interval between sunrise and sunset which is distinguished from and contrasted with the night”. Paul and his companions worked steadily and tirelessly among the Thessalonians for their own sustenance and provision, and he used this as an example of their commitment to them.

The verse goes on to say, “...because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.” Paul continued with the reason he and his companions worked for themselves among the Thessalonians, “because” which means “to the advantage of, at, near, towards and with regard to” “we would not be chargeable” which is the Greek phrase “epibareō mē epibareō” which means “not put a load or burden upon or be burdensome” “unto any of you” which refers to “some or certain ones of the Thessalonians” “we preached” which means “heralded, proclaimed and published” “unto you” which refers to “the Thessalonians” “the gospel” or “good and the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. These were the glad tidings of the salvation that is available through Jesus Christ” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead and trinity comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. Paul desired not to be a burden to the people with whom he shared the gospel, so he and his companions worked for themselves. By this the Thessalonians would know Paul and his comrades were not among them just to receive.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we notice straightaway Paul's concern for not being burdensome to the Thessalonians, and this was a demonstration of his pure love and concern for them. Rather than being paid for sharing the gospel with them, Paul and his companions worked other jobs for their personal provisions. We wonder what this would be like today if ministers worked jobs outside the church to support themselves. There is support in the scriptures for ministers to be cared for by the church, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is mentioned in this same letter. Our concern is about those who take advantage of their parishioners by exacting or demanding more than they should receive for their service. Let us go before the Lord Jesus in prayer and decide whether Paul and his companions “laboring night and day” that they might not be “burdensome” is an example for us, and may He help us know if we are ones who abuse other's provisions.

Next time Paul writes about how he and his companions lived “holily and justly and unblameably” among the Thessalonicans, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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