"...As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children..." (1 Thess. 2:11)

Several years ago, my second son, Steve, tried out for the high school football team. One day he walked into my office and proclaimed with great excitement, "Dad, I made the team!" I turned and said, "Yeah, but are you starting?" Steve walked away crushed. At the time, Steve was a junior in high school, and I just assumed that he would make the team. I was so preoccupied that I didn't take the time to understand what was important to Steve. As fathers, we need to take time to find out what's important to our children and then make those things our priority and focus. (From Phillip H. Porter, Jr.)

Likewise, as did the apostle Paul, we need to consider the needs and interests of our fellow Christians, and not be preoccupied with ourselves.