This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
7 But [alla] we were [ginomai] gentle [epios] among [en] [mesos] you, [humon] even as [hos] a nurse [trophos] cherisheth [an] [thalpo] her [heautou] children: [teknon]
8 So [houto] being affectionately desirous [himeiromai] of you, [humon] we were willing [eudokeo] to have imparted [metadidomi] unto you, [humin] not [ou] the gospel [euaggelion] of God [theos] only, [monon] but [alla] also [kai] our own [heautou] souls, [psuche] because [dioti] ye were [ginomai] dear [agapetos] unto us. [hemin] KJV-Interlinear
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. NASB
Patience, endurance, tolerance are paramount attributes for the spiritually advancing believer.
At some point in our lives, we will all assume the role of instructor. An instructor is not limited to the academics of life, in a formal school or church or study setting, but applies to parent and child, friends and neighbors, and so forth.
Most teaching opportunities are of an informal nature, and most make themselves available on a daily basis.
In life we will all have encounters with people, with advertising, with promotional media, with news and such.
And knowing the nature of this world, which nature pursues evil, lies, and therefore stupidity, then as an advancing believer, and recognizing the absurdity of life all around, you have to discipline yourself to deal with it all, just as a mother deals with a growing child.
Children have their silly and ridiculous moments, and most mature moms simply take them in stride, expecting them, catching them on the fly, dealing with them, and moving forward.
When the child is silly, ridiculous or outright stupid, no mother in her right mind will condemn the child for their brainless notions. Most mature moms will simply deflect the views and direct them in more correct views. If this gives the child cause to think and review their own ideas, then the mother has taught the child successfully.
And the world is no different.
In life there are the mature and the immature.
Maturity comes with knowledge and experience, such that you are able to figure life out. Bible doctrine is the only source of knowledge that offers you a complete picture of life, from all perspectives, and therefore the only means of developing true wisdom for dealing with life.
The only means of advancing to maturity, is through a daily Bible Study. One which goes on and on and on for the rest of your life, with no days skipped, no time off for vacations, even in sickness your daily study should be foremost on your things to do list.
And although there are many forms of and degrees of maturity (physical, mental, emotional, etc.), spiritual maturity is the single most important, because it is the most complete, whereas the others are not.
The world is full of intellectually mature people, but without doctrine, their views will always be skewed in the wrong direction of life. And therefore, tolerance and patience are a requirement for the believer, especially in times of trouble, world trouble, when the immature (most everyone in the world) run things.
Your greatest tidbit of knowledge is that Jesus Christ controls history. So no matter how ridiculous or absurd this world seems to be, no matter how closed minded people are to your opinions, Christ will sort it all out, and work everything for the benefit of that which is good and rational and correct.
