My wife recently commented about the wealth of information included in the Christmas cards we sometimes receive. You can learn a lot about what is important to someone by reading or listening to what they write or say. Nowadays, you don’t have to wait until Christmas to find out what is on someone’s mind-just look at his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter! He might mention Junior’s T-ball season, Suzy’s masterpieces on the piano, or some other family event from the year, none of which are wrong. But that information is instructive as to what is important-you can “get a feel” for how they feel.
You cannot help but get the sense of how Paul felt in I Thessalonians 2-3. What was Paul’s priority? What was most important to him? Now, Paul had trouble (“tribulation”) but that was not his priority. Paul certainly needed money and health to minister, but that was not his priority, either. His priority is found in verse 5: “I sent to know your faith. . . .”
You cannot help but see Paul’s priority! He made what is eternally important the priority. There were Christians in Thessalonica who were growing, serving, and doing right (verse 6), even in Paul’s absence. Did Paul have other concerns? Yes, but those concerns-food, money, health-took a back seat to the priority.
What is your priority today? What would (and do) people see as your priority when they read your Christmas card or what is on your Facebook and Twitter account? What would people conclude is most important to you? Paul’s priority was seeing others grow in God’s grace. Is that your priority, as well?