Refreshing Service
I was at
lunch with someone recently. This person described to me a loss they had: they
feel like they lost the clear sense of God’s presence in their lives. But in
that discussion this person made a telling observation that I think takes us
somewhere important. This person said something like this, “Maybe it’s because
we’re not serving like we used to do.” That seems right to me. It’s not that we
have to merit and secure God’s presence by our activity, but there is a
connection between our assisting others and God’s attending us. This brings me
to consider 1 Corinthians 16:15-18 and refreshing service:
“Now I urge you,
brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in
Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—be
subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at
the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up
for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give
recognition to such people.”
The
household of Stephanas is quite a heart-warming example of refreshing service. They
were early disciples in Corinth, “the
first converts in Achaia.” They were devoted disciples in Corinth, “that they have devoted themselves to the
service of the saints.” They were exemplary disciples in Corinth, “be subject to such as these, and to every
fellow worker and laborer.” And they were enjoyable disciples in Corinth, “I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and
Fortunatus and Achaicus, (…) for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.
Give recognition to such people.” A very impressive list.
What
sticks out is Paul’s statement “they refreshed my spirit”. The Apostle
reserves this word for only a few people. For example, he will encourage
Philemon with these words, “For I have
derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of
the saints have been refreshed through you” (Philemon 7); and later
he will challenge him – in his delicate situation – to continue being a
refreshing person, “Yes, brother, I want
some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ”
(Philemon 20). And at the end of Paul’s life, as he penned his final letter to
young pastor Timothy, he mentions another person: “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed
me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched
for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the
Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus”
(2 Timothy 1:16-18). All of these were known for their refreshing service,
which put flesh and bones to what Paul had said back up in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14,
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that
you do be done in love.”
In a way
Paul is emphasizing that instead of being impressed by the powerful, the
prideful, the playboys and the prudes, the Apostle shows us who we are to be
impressed with – those whose love is exhibited in service. And by this
refreshing service these exemplary folks built relational capital with fellow
believers. Therefore, Paul says, “be
subject to such as these… Give recognition to such people.” Not only is
this a fitting template for your prayers and ambitions as families; but it
gives you a rule of thumb as to whom you should look to for leadership and
desire as examples for yourselves and your kids.
I find it highly instructive that Paul has no problem calling us to follow his example as he follows Christ. But even more surprising, he is not shy to point out commendable people as models for us. I guess it shouldn’t be so surprising. Paul really did believe that God graciously saves us and makes us a new kind of people through his Son, Jesus, and by his Holy Spirit. Paul believed the Gospel. And in that strong trust, and in keeping with Proverbs 27:2, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27.2), the Apostle points out others as role models, examples, of what Gospel-impacted, grace-empowered lives look like, in flesh and blood.
Brothers and sisters give thanks to God for those who evidence the grace of God, the power of God, and the transforming Spirit of God. And pray for one another that we and our sons and daughters will continue to be those who refresh the spirits of others by our service.
Pastor Mike
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