Paul wanted the Thessalonian congregation to have a healthy community. Accordingly, Paul told them to give tailored help. Notice that the medicine fits the disease. They warn the unruly. They comfort the fainthearted. They uphold the weak. They don’t uphold or comfort the unruly. That would feed and make their rebellion strong. They don’t warn the fainthearted. They would collapse. Paul encourages them with a focused love.

I entered a long-term pastoral internship in late 2008 under a very serious pastor. Nicknamed “The Captain” and known as “Arch,” he was a former Navy Pilot and project manager for the Sidewinder missile project. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was part of his retirement plan. He would train me and recommend that the congregation offer me a pastoral call. His plan worked, but it took a lot of effort on both of our parts.

He showed another side of himself, however, during a dinner at his home. My wife and I joined Arch, his wife Judy, and his grandson. The young man struggled with his manners at the table. I thought, “He better straighten up. Doesn’t he know who his grandfather is and the standards he has?” As the evening went on, I never saw the serious, grave, and rigorous mentor that I knew. Every word to his grandson was patient. He corrected him when needed, but even that was with a relaxed gentleness. Arch’s gentle correction of his grandson contrasted sharply with his rigorous training of me, leaving me puzzled.

A few months later I came across some Bible passages and articles in the Westminster Standards that made sense of what I saw. My mentor—as usual—was setting an example for me of true wisdom, wisdom that every man needs to hear: Christian leaders exercise individual care. Arch sought to raise up both his grandson and me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He knew that a 5-year-old and a grown man with 4 children succeeding him as senior pastor required different guidance.

The apostle Paul instructed the leaders in Thessalonica to take the same approach. Paul wrote, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Paul wanted the Thessalonian congregation to have a healthy community. Accordingly, Paul told them to give tailored help. Notice that the medicine fits the disease. They warn the unruly. They comfort the fainthearted. They uphold the weak. They don’t uphold or comfort the unruly. That would feed and make their rebellion strong. They don’t warn the fainthearted. They would collapse. Paul encourages them with a focused love.

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