Cherish in Ministry
Real ministry must spring from a love for people. 1st Thessalonians 2 and verse 7 says, “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children”.
It’s a beautiful word there, ‘cherish’. It’s to warm her children. You know when a child is cold, what the mother does is to come hug the child to warm the child with her own body heat. It’s a picture also used of a bird that is sitting on her eggs to incubate it, to warm it. Now I’m not saying that a pastor or a servant today are to sit on their people, though we sometimes feel like doing so, but this is a picture of great tenderness, warmth and love. You want to give them your warmth, you want to serve them, and you want to cherish them.
Contrast that in verses 5 and 6 here that there are people who want to just make use of others. In verse 5 we are told that there are false teachers who use flattering words. Why do they use flattering words? They butter you up so they may slaughter you when its time. He says in verse 5 that it is a cloak of covetousness; it’s a pretense, they are sucking you in into their lies so that they may take advantage of you. Paul says, “I’m not someone like that, I love you, I warm you, I cherish you.” And then there are others in verse 6 who seek glory of people.
And my friends, this is such a powerful lesson for us, why do you serve? Do you serve because people applaud and cheer you? Or you serve because you really love them? Real ministry is like a mother unconditionally just giving, nourishing and cherishing her children. May God give us such shepherd’s hearts.
May God help us today to remember His words, “If you love Me, feed My sheep. Give to them, serve them, and love them.”
May God give you that same heart for others, God bless.