1Thessalonians 5:11-15
Taking Care of the Weak
I. \\#1Thess 1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#1Thess 1:3-10\\ Paul’s Knowledge of the Thessalonians
III. \\#1Thess 2:1-16\\ Paul’s Plan for the Thessalonians
IV. \\#1Thess 2:17-4:12\\ Paul’s Heart for the Thessalonians
V. \\#1Thess 4:13-5:10\\ Paul’s Message for the Thessalonians
VI. \\#1Thess 5:11-22\\ Paul’s Commands to the Thessalonians
1. \\#5:11-14\\ Commands to the body, about the body, for the body.
a. \\#11\\ Comfort yourselves together.
b. Edify one another.
c. \\#12-13\\ Know those who admonish you and esteem them highly.
d. \\#13\\ Be at peace among yourselves.
e. \\#14\\ Warn the unruly.
f. Comfort the feebleminded.
g. Support the weak.
2. \\#5:14-15\\ Commands for within and without the body
a. \\#14\\Be patient toward all.
b. \\#15\\ Do not render evil for evil, but do good.
3. \\#5:16-22\\ Commands to the body members.
a. \\#16\\ Rejoice evermore.
b. \\#17\\ Pray without ceasing.
c. \\#18\\ In everything, give thanks.
d. \\#19\\ Quench not the Holy Spirit.
e. \\#20\\ Despise not preaching.
f. \\#21\\ Test everything. Keep that which is good.
g. \\#22\\ Abstain from things which even look bad.
VII. \\#1Thess 5:23-28\\ Closing
Last week, we began looking at some commands that Paul was giving to the
Thessalonians on how to have a healthy church body. There are two very important
thoughts that we need to remember as we look at this section.
1. No one is responsible for us being healthy but ourselves.
2. These first commands are commands that Paul gives to the body, about the
body, and for the body. That is, we are to practice these commands on
ourselves.
We looked at the first four commands that he gave last week.
1. \\#11\\ Comfort yourselves together.
2. Edify one another.
3. \\#12-13\\ Know those who admonish you and esteem them highly.
4. \\#13\\ Be at peace among yourselves.
Today, we continue that study, but look at three commands for a smaller subset
of the church’s body. Most every church is made up of the spiritual and the
carnal, the faithful and the sporadic, the prosperous and the poor, the strong and
the weak. In being a godly church, we must deal with all kinds of people in the
way that God would have us to do.
Let me give a few thoughts in introducing this message.
1. A church is only as God-like as they treat their weaker members.
a. We can call ourselves a growing church if we have large numbers.
b. We can call ourselves a Biblical church if we preach the Bible.
c. We can call ourselves an evangelical church if we work to win the lost
in our communities.
d. We can call ourselves a mission-minded church if we work to win the
lost around the world.
e. However, we only call ourselves God-like, if we care for those that God
cares for.
2. God doesn’t just care for the strong, the sound, the wealthy, and the
capable.
a. God also cares for the sick, the weak, the carnal, and the rebellious.
b. We must too!
c. Too often we tend to judge people based on where WE ARE.
(1) Those who aren’t as smart or capable as us are mentally disabled.
(2) Those who aren’t as churched as us are carnal.
d. From God’s prospective, we are all mentally disabled and rebellious.
3. We must learn one of God’s most important rules.
a. God does not throw anybody away and God doesn’t write anybody off.
b. No matter whether the individual is a help to the church or a
hindrance,
c. no matter whether they are a tither or a taker,
d. no matter whether they are an business executive or a bus kid.
e. God does not throw people away. They are all important to Him.
4. God is in the people business and no other.
a. God doesn’t care about bank accounts or buildings.
b. God doesn’t care about our dignity or pride.
c. The only thing that is important to Him is the human soul.
d. If we have to suffer some loss, some humility, or even some pain to
help a human soul, that is all right with God.
e. And every soul is of equal value to Him.
5. That doesn’t mean that we are not to disciple and discipline as needed.
a. God tells us to deal firmly with Christian who do wrong.
1Cor 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is
called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge
them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves
that wicked person.
b. …and with lost people who won’t repent.
2John 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
c. But we must never lose sight of WHY we are discipline a person.
d. It is always with the intent of bringing the wayward to Christ and to
submission.
With all of that in mind, God gives three commands that specifically deal with
weaker members.
I. \\#1Thess 5:14\\ Warn them that are unruly.
A. The word UNRULY means those that are disorderly, out of rank, those
who deviate from the prescribed order.
1. I would take this to mean those who are Christians but are weak
spiritually.
2. For whatever reason, they can not or will not DO what is right.
B. I believe there are some people who can’t seem to get close enough to
Christ to experience His empowering.
1. I do not believe this is any fault of Christ or His power.
2. One of the requirements for accessing the power of Christ is a
WILLING heart.
a. We know that God does not save anyone against their WILL.
b. We also know that God does not change anyone against their WILL.
3. I have come to believe that some people may only be half-way
WILLING.
a. They want to be like Christ OVERALL. (i.e. They want to be
strong, spiritual, pleasing to God.)
b. But when it comes to the SPECIFICS, they just aren’t WILLING.
(i.e. They want to bar hop with friends, sleep in on Sunday,
participate in sexual pleasures.)
C. This is why I preach on the CHARACTER REQUIRED FOR SALVATION.
1. Even as lost people, some amount of CHARACTER needs to be implanted
into the hearts of our boys and girls.
2. Until recent years, even lost people knew that adultery was wrong,
abortion was wrong, homosexuality was wrong, drunkenness was wrong,
laziness was wrong.
3. That touch of morality made lost people SORRY when they did wrong.
4. Now, many people have no shame or sorrow over their wrong.
5. Without that brokenness, it is hard to change their will.
6. Without a willing heart, it is hard to change their habits.
D. This kind of person is very frustrating.
1. To be honest, it is hard to tell if they are even saved or not.
2. And it seems that you can help them out of the same mess a hundred
times and they just go right back to it again.
E. Paul doesn’t say throw these people away. He says WARN them.
1. Warn them what they are doing to themselves.
2. Warn them that sin is against God.
3. Warn them that there are consequences to their actions.
F. It is my belief that at some point, you have to quit offering some kinds
of help to these people.
1. If you keep giving them money, they will never learn.
2. If you keep bailing the out of jail, they will never stop getting
put in.
3. If you keep rescuing them from the consequences of their sins, then
they will never learn the wages of sin hurts.
4. But that doesn’t mean you quit loving them, praying for them, or
just throw them away.
G. Remember…
1. Stopping their help may help them while sending them away will only
hurt them.
2. Being firm with them may teach them while not talking to them will
only isolate them.
3. Disciplining them is a heart of love, while throwing them away is
a heart of frustration.
II. Comfort the feebleminded.
A. To be feebleminded is to be weak hearted, but I believe our translated
word, feebleminded, is a very good way to understand it.
1. Being unruly is when a person will not DO what is right.
2. Being feebleminded is when a person will not BELIEVE what is right.
B. I don’t mean this in the area of diverse doctrine.
1. Not everyone who disagrees with us doctrinally is feebleminded.
2. I think these are those who just can’t get their FAITH to work
properly.
C. So many people who call themselves Christians are filled with doubt.
1. I understand that faith is required for salvation and without
having faith, a person is not saved.
2. However, I also believe there are some people who are saved who
doubt they are.
3. I believe there are some people who are saved who doubt that God
loves them.
4. I believe there are some people who are saved who doubt that God
will help them, will answer their prayers, or maybe even listens
to them pray at all.
5. These are people who are weak hearted or feebleminded in the things
of God.
D. Again, dealing these people is frustrating.
1. You tell them the same things over and over again.
a. Why? Because there is only so many ways to tell a person that
God loves them, listens to them, and will answer their prayers
IF they will believe.
b. After that, you just end up repeating yourself.
2. But even though you don’t have anything new to say, they keep
coming back to you.
a. Why? Because they get some measure of faith listening to you
talk!
b. For whatever reason, they can’t seem to hold onto that shred
of faith; but it feels so good while they have it, they come
back to see if they can get it again.
c. And it usually seems that every time they come back, they want
to talk longer and longer until they are draining all of your
energy and time.
d. Why do they do this? Because while they are with you, they
feel a little faith but they know that as soon as they leave,
that faith feeling is going to dissipate so they don’t want to
leave!
3. To the mature Christian, it is so frustrating having to say the
same things over and over again, realizing that you are not doing
the feeble Christian any good in the long run, but they just keep
coming back over and over again.
a. You spend hours and hours praying for them and talking to them
and after awhile, you just want to throw them away!
b. Don’t!
E. Rather, Paul commands us to continue COMFORTING them.
1. That is, keep trying to help them.
a. What you are doing may not HELP them in the long run, but it
comforts them.
b. If comfort is all you can give a person, then give them comfort.
2. CONTROL YOUR TIME AND ACCESS AS YOU MUST, but don’t give up on
them.
a. Tell them when you have something else to do.
(1) Tell them when you have to go.
(2) Tell them that you will pray for them now but you cannot
talk at that moment.
(3) Tell them kindly, tell them lovingly, but TELL THEM.
b. Find someone else to help you comfort them.
(1) Don’t just throw them to another individual.
(2) Tell the other mature Christian what is going on and work
out a "share" program.
(3) Sadly, sometimes the share partner actually thinks they
want to take on the full responsibility of the feeble
Christian, but they probably will not after they find
out how bad it is going to get.
(4) If they still want to take full responsibility, watch the
situation and intervene before they get burned out.
3. But don’t get frustrated and throw them away.
III. Support the weak.
A. The word "weak" means "without strength, infirm."
1. I believe this is a reference to those who are physically weak.
2. You can call them sick or disabled.
3. They can be old or young.
4. Their weakness can be of the mind or the body.
5. But if they cannot get along physically, we are to support them.
B. We should understand that benevolence is not an option for a Christian.
1. We must help the lost.
Ga 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith.
2. We must help the saved.
1Jo 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in
him?
C. As in helping any of the other categories of weak members within the
church, this can be frustrating.
1. These kinds of situations do not always get better.
2. There can be more who need help than those who are willing to give
help.
3. And we all know that there is only so much that we can do.
4. But God wants us to stand in for Him to the weak and trust Him to
provide for us.
D. I do think there are two times when you should not help another and not
fell badly about it.
1. When God does not tell you to help.
a. I do not think God will speak to most people about every need,
every time.
b. God may test you from time to time to see if you will give
more than you can afford, but generally, God does not want
you to give more than He is providing for you.
2Cor 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for
their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there
may be equality:
c. If God does not tell you to give, don’t give.
2. When you think God has quit helping you, I think it will be all
right for you to quit helping others.
a. Here is the thing. Just tell God first.
(1) Just tell God when you think He has let you down.
(2) Tell Him that you have to make your two NEW car payments,
that you are still paying for the Christmas gifts you
bought everyone last year,
that you have to pay for your new furniture, your new HD
television; and the kids new, top of the line school
clothes.
(3) Explain to God that you have an obligation to pay for that
elaborate vacation you have planned,
that you simply can’t do without your call, text, and
internet cell telephone,
and that we all have to have cable or satellite television
today.
(4) You might also explain to God that cigarettes cost more
than they ever have,
that even though you could stand to lose a few pounds,
going to eat at McDonald’s three or four times a week is
absolutely a necessity for you,
and that all of those $1.50 sodas that you are drinking
aren’t really as bad for your health as they say.
b. Just tell God that the family that doesn’t have a job because
of some sickness and is doing without any food at all will
have to look elsewhere.
c. Or explain to God how the government can take of that family
without electricity or water.
d. Or tell God to speak to someone else about those who are being
put on the street.
e. And if you will do that, I don’t think God will want your money
even if He had already told you to give it to Him.
Most every church is made up of the spiritual and the carnal, the faithful and the
sporadic, the prosperous and the poor, the strong and the weak. In being a godly
church, we must deal with all kinds of people in the way that God would have us to
do—otherwise, we will not be a healthy body.
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