A second cause for rejoicing in ministry takes place whenever bonds of Christian love and fellowship are maintained and mutual encouragement is taking place. And it is obvious how important this was to the apostle. He has great relief over their continuing faith, but he mentions also that
you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you(1 Thessalonians 3:6). Now that is not just Paul being insecure or something—it is his awareness of how important these bonds of love are to the work of the gospel. And he shows us that pastors should not only love their congregations greatly and fervently pray for them, but pastors should also prize a mutual feeling of love from those they serve. You know that it is not always going to happen. There are times when a pastor lets you down, makes a decision you do not like or preaches a sermon you are offended by. Trust me, I know. I am bound to fail your expectations—and even your needs. To be a pastor is a humbling thing.There will even be times when it is a pastor’s duty to make himself obnoxious to his congregation if they are wayward or hardened in heart. Paul, who felt these things so keenly—read 1 Corinthians 1:1–16:24. Sometimes Paul is not popular at the time. He is saying what he must in order to speak the truth to them. Read Galatians. Yes, so he is not on a popularity campaign.
And yet, how much it meant to him when there was love and close fellowship between the pastors and the congregation—and within the congregation. How valuable it is to the work of Christian growth and to evangelism when there is unity in the church. Much should be invested in the unity and love and fellowship bonds of the church, and how we should value and celebrate them when they are there. It is not just for pastors and church leaders—it is true for all Christians. We should so prize the unity of the church and the love of the church that, on matters of preference or debatable opinions, we would gladly set them aside and let it not go the way that we want, lest we should say something or do something that would harm the unity of the church—break the bonds of fellowship between fellow believers. And Paul was fretting over slander committed against him, and he can hardly express his thanks to God that their hearts had not been turned away.1
Richard D. Phillips
7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.