February 11, 2021

Last time, we opened up a series of devotionals in 1 Thessalonians as we looked at Living Your Best Life…Everyday! And the first way we discovered last week from chapter one was to Determine Everyday to Set a Good Example. Today, we are going look at chapter 2:1-12 and talk about the importance of Investing Your Life into Another Person.



1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 “For you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery,[b] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle[c] among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

William Booth, founder of Salvation Army, could not make annual convention: “OTHERS!”

If you want to truly live your best life everyday, find someone you can pour your life into! 

1. Making an investment in others seldom happens when everything in your own life is going well. (1-2) – 

“For you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

In February 2020, I was flying how from Budapest, Hungary. I had finished a week long of training pastors and graduated 30 students at our school for Roma Gypsy Pastoral Leaders. I was ready to be home and arranged my flight to make it home by late afternoon. My flight out of Hungary was a little late, but that was not a huge problem. When we landed in Amsterdam, I checked the gate for the Atlanta flight and headed that way. Passport Control was crazy crowded but made it through...barely. When I got to the gate, I still had a few minutes to spare. However, I didn't see the normal line up of people for this flight and asked the counter agents the reason why. She informed me that the gate had been changed!! The new gate was on the other end of the terminal. I took off like a mad man and arrived at the gate just in time to see them close the door and take my bags off the plane. With all the charm and reasoning I could muster, nothing could be done and I had missed my flight. Anger and frustration flooded through me as I thought about not being able to see my wife when I expected and possibly getting stuck in Amsterdam another day! I went to customer service to rebook my flight. The kind lady told me they had a flight leaving in four hours with one seat available, AND, it was an aisle seat!! 

I took the ticket and began to pray about why this had happened. God did not speak audibly to me about why but somehow I had peace. When I went to my seat on the plane, I sat beside this young man from Bali, Indonesia who was flying to the States to work for Carnival Cruise Lines. We began to talk. he was very engaging and wanted to know all about the US. Before long, we were deep in a conversation about spiritual things, and I told him about Jesus and the Gospel for the first time in his life. He was coming from a Hindu background. To this day, we continue to correspond and I continue to share things about Jesus when I can. While I was talking with this young man, it dawned on me that he was the reason I had missed my flight. God wanted me to invest in this young man for the sake of him knowing Christ. The situation wasn't ideal and I had to confess my anger about missing my flight, but God did not allow that to stop me from investing in that young man. Making investments in others doesn't require perfect environments but positioned hearts that are positioned to do the will of God wherever and to whomever He desires. 

2. Making an investment in others should never come from selfish motivations (3-6)

3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

A, Not about impressing the person to make them feel good (3-4)

B. Not about getting something out of the person (5) - spending time with only the people who will advance your cause or line your pockets – we see this in politics, sports and entertainment…we can also see this in the church!!)

C. Not about impressing other people to be recognized by others (6)

"How To Be Miserable." It says, "Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use "I" as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others."

3. Making an investment in others requires more than our mere words (7-8, 11-12)

A. Pleaded with them, 

B. Encouraged Them 

C. Urged Them to walk in a manner worthy of God!

That’s investing your life in a person!!

In the movie, The Guardian, with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher – US Coast Guard Instructor who had gone through serious trauma and loss. He had a student , Ashton Kutcher, who felt responsible for three of his friends death in an auto accident. He was struggling to get his life together until Costner shared his own loss and poured his life into Kutcher which made all the difference! At the end of the movie, Costner makes a sacrificial move to save Kutcher. Costner falls into the sea never to be found. In the last scene, Kutcher rescues a man who says he was buoyed by someone under the water who would not let him go. They called Costner, the Guardian of the sea. 

The real Guardian is Jesus Christ who holds up our lives when we feel like we are about to drown under the waves and pressure of life. But He also gives us that ministry as He works through us to buoy other people who might be drowning. Being a US Coast Guard was and is about saving the lives of others. All of our military who defend us courageously make an investment of their life sacrificially. Today or this week, look for someone in whom you can invest your life with the Gospel, with encouragement, with a challenge. Making an investment in others keeps the focus off you and guards you from becoming overwhelmingly self-centered. When you pour into others, God pours Himself into you!

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