Sometimes This is the only Way Forward

1 Thessalonians 3:1
So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.

1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

Apostle Paul and his companions were chased out of Thessalonica by persecution. They had not completed the work. The church was still young and in need of guidance. They were on a mission to establish a strong church, but persecution ended their trip prematurely.

The Apostle Paul and his companions Timothy, Silas, and probably others, escaped to Athens. They stayed in Athens hoping things will change so that they can go back to Thessalonica. As they waited their anxiety grew because of the situation in Thessalonica.

The church in Thessalonica was facing pressure from inside the church and outside the church. The church had false teachers from within the church. In the absence of Apostle Paul and his team, the false teachers must have been having a field day misleading the congregation. The thought that false religious leaders from within the church were misleading Thessalonians, seriously disturbed Paul and his team. They were concerned about this pressure from within the church.

From outside the church, the Thessalonians were facing persecution from Jews allied to the Roman government. The government was cracking down on believers, throwing them in prison, and even getting them killed. Apostle Paul and his team were worried that if key leaders became victims of persecution, the church would scatter and die. This was the external pressure that the Thessalonians church was facing. The thought of these occurrences killing the church planted, left Paul and his team so anxious.

It is at the climax of this anxiety that Apostle Paul writes our text today. He says a point came when they couldn’t stand the anxiety anymore. They had to do something. They had waited long enough for the situation to change so that they can go back to Thessalonica, but nothing was changing. They couldn’t sit back and wait for news that the church collapsed from external and internal pressure. Paul says they decided to take a risk. Sometimes this is the only way forward!

They took a risk of remaining by themselves in Athens as Timothy ventured alone into enemy territory to help the church grow. It was risky for them to remain by themselves without Timothy. It was equally risky to send Timothy alone to Thessalonica. The only way forward was to take a risk. If they had not taken a risk, they would never have made progress. Sometimes this is the only way forward!

1 Thessalonians 3:6
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

Timothy went and visited the Thessalonians during that risky mission and came back with a good report that the church was growing in spite of the dangers from within and from without. Timothy ended their anxiety when he returned with a good report. The church has benefitted greatly from the risk that was taken. While they (Paul and co.) were worrying God was taking care of His work by fixing the false teachers and defeating the persecutors. The risk they took was the best way forward and there was no better way forward than risk-taking. Sometimes this is the only way forward!

Many times we fail and never make any progress because we avoid taking calculated risks. Many times actually, risk-taking is the only way forward. If you cant take a risk you won’t move from where you are stuck. We need to pray for courage to take risks. Sometimes this is the only way forward!

Take risks by returning tithes and offerings amidst a budget shortage. Take risks by attending worship on the sabbath instead of going to work or school. Take risks by forgiving your partner and starting afresh instead of living in hostility. Take risks by dating someone. Take risks by risking another heartbreak. All men have disappointed you, but take risks with one more. Women have caused you losses and harm, take risks with one more. That risk may shuttle you into a happy marriage. Sometimes this is the only way forward!

Take risks by trying that same business differently. Take risks by investing. Take risks by applying for jobs even outside your country and comfort zone. Take risks by confronting bad behavior so that it is not repeated. Take risks by writing a bad thesis or manuscript and presenting it anyway, the corrections may be fewer than you ever thought. Take risks and move from where you are stuck. Sometimes this is the only way forward!

Dear God, give us wisdom and courage to take the risks that we must, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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