Labor That Is Not In Vain
In our text today, Paul begins by saying, “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain” (v. 1).
Have you ever done something that was “in vain”? What does that mean?
When we look back at something which we have either done, or attempted to do, and say that it was “in vain” we mean that it . . .
a. Did not have the outcome we expected or desired.
b. Was futile or unsuccessful, a failure.
But Paul did not say that about the time which he, Silas and Timothy spent in Thessalonica.
Even though he and his companions came to Thessalonica after having “suffered
and been mistreated in Philippi” through beatings and imprisonment for preaching the gospel, their time spent in Thessalonica was not in vain.
Instead, Paul said that they had “the boldness in . . . God to speak . . . the gospel of God amid much oppoisition” (v. 2b).
What about our time spent here, as Christians, in Waverly, Tennessee.
When all is said and done, will we or will God look back on it and say that it was
time spent “in vain.”
Not if we follow the example of Paul and those who were with him.