The heart of a Christian worker - pastor, missionary, small group leader, Sunday School teacher, and many more - is wrapped up in the spiritual growth and well-being of those he/she serves. Paul reveals this to be true in his experience with the Thessalonian Christians among whom he'd been able to spend way too little time. He reveals his anxious concern for these young believers and the relief he felt when Timothy traveled to and returned from Thessalonica and reported the Thessalonians were standing firm in the faith.

There are lessons in Paul's experience about how we impact those who labor in the Lord for our benefit. We end with the question of whether we are encouraging or discouraging their efforts.