In real contrast there are “the faint hearted”: those who have lost courage; those who are anxious about the dead or about their own salvation; those who are despondent or in despair. There are many such. It is the duty of fellow Christians not to despise but to “encourage” them, to give them sympathy and cheer. “Support the weak” — not those lacking in physical RESTING IN HIM I do not understand, dear Lord, Why this has come, nor see Why days are dark and nights so long, And clouds o'ershadow me. Dost thou not understand, my child, Why clouds o'ercast the sky? That without rain no rainbow bright Could be, and flowers would die? So in thy life, my precious one, Shall I send only sun To wither, scorch what dormant lies; And little raindrops shun? Come lay thy weary head and rest Upon my breast — nor pine. This is from Me; I know what's best Thy beauty to refine. Just trust me when through paths unknown I lead, perchance with pain. Lean hard, my child, take thou my hand; Some day I'll make it plain. Dear Lord, I may not understand The way Thou leadest me, Suffice to know that Thou, Oh, God, The path ahead doth see. — -Cornell K. Wilmoth strength, not those in need of material relief, but those who are morally and spiritually weak, those who are about to yield to temptation, those who can not endure the testing of persecution and reproach. To them support and aid must be given. “Be longsuffering toward all.” Pa tience must be shown toward the err ing, the despondent, the weak — in deed, toward all men. Christians are not to be of hasty temper. They are to 34
I Thessalonians (continued) This is not a cold, external authority,- but one exercised in the warmth of Christian bonds. Being: “in the Lord” it is an authority to be exercised for the spiritual good of believers (II Cor. 10:8), and not to give the office-bear ers opportunity for lording it over them (Luke 22:25ff.). The third function of these people is admonishing. The verb is Pauline, and while its tone is brotherly, it is big-brotherly. There is often the notion of some tie between the admonisher and the admonished, and there is the thought of blame attaching to some wrong doing which is being rebuked. “I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ohi'ldren” (I Cor. 4:14) is a passage which brings out both thoughts: the tenderness which is unwilling to shame, and the blame for failure to do the right. Indeed, it is to the mutual obligation of church members that the following exhortations specifically refer. It is not enough to respect those who are lead ers in the church, to refrain from criticizing them, or to honor them for the work they are called to do. All Christians must help them and share in their labors. The presence in the church of faithful officers relieves no member from definite responsibility for the spiritual welfare of his fellow be lievers. Especially heavy is the respon- sibilty of those who regard themselves as strong and mature in the Christian life. “We exhort you, brethren,” writes the apostle — and the exhortation is thus addressed to each one in the com munity of believers — “admonish the disorderly.” “Those who do not keep in the ranks” is the literal meaning of “disorderly.” It probably refers speci fically to those who were abandoning their tasks and duties because of a feverish expectation of the immediate return of Christ. It may include all who are idle, meddlesome, and of un quiet mind. Such must be warned, re buked, admonished, by their Christian brethren.
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