Quid Pro Quo

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ESV). There are many words and phrases that make it into our language as it continues to evolve. One of those is “quid pro quo.” Literally this phrase is Latin meaning “this for that.” The Urban Dictionary describes it with the understanding of: "I want something, you want something. You give me what I want, I'll give you what you want. Quid pro quo." It is another way of expressing the principle the Apostle Paul describes in our reading today. He and the other missionaries with him acted like “a father toward a son” toward them and he encourages them to do the same with others. Mutual encouragement is a big theme in First Thessalonians. Paul frequently expresses how encouraged he is by their faith, and he in turn encourages them to keep growing in faith, hope, and love. Encouragement, of course, is crucial for any major life change. Just ask anyone who’s trying to lose weight or quit smoking. Encouragement isn’t quite as crucial, of course, for a simple, straightforward task, like registering to vote or paying a bill. Perseverance might be necessary (but that’s a story for another day). Most of the time we all need a little encouragement to go forward just a bit more. Paul’s focus on encouragement is thus a reminder that being a Christian is not an easy, one-time, check-the-box accomplishment. The gospel changes the shape of our entire lives. Living a life that is worthy of God’s calling can’t be done in five minutes a day or by completing a to-do list of tasks, no matter how worshipful they might be. To really live lives that “walk the walk,” as Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to do, means that all of our lives will be transformed. This demands a lot more than the popular theology in Thessalonica described. With the pagan deities of that culture you could simply make an offering, then live your life in whatever way you chose. But to follow the God we know in Christ means offering all we are and have to him. Now, if you’re at all like me, that complete self-sacrifice the Bible speaks about is often just out of reach in your mind. I must confess that some of the things I know the Lord wants me to do seem terribly difficult and impossible to do. That’s where quid pro quo is so important. If you encouragement me, I am free to encourage you. We both get a bit better at becoming all God wants us to be in the process. Regardless of how often you may have fallen, you can get up and try again. God’s forgiveness is complete and forever. Come one… join me in walking a bit further. Who knows what we will find just around the corner!