Our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ

1 Thessalonians 3:2
and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith

Paul was sending Timothy to help with the establishment of an earlier church. Timothy was fully ready to be send out on God's work, just like Isaiah was when he responded to God's call to send him. Being in the service of God means yielding to His calling which may take us anywhere or anyhow He pleases. There is little room for our own plans. Unless we totally yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we may be lost in our own world of playing church.

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

Romans 14:7
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 


When we accepted Christ in faith and as the Lord, we are no longer our own masters. Previously we may have lived in a way of looking for our own benefits or advantages - some may even call it selfish. However, after accepting Christ we belong to him. So Paul is trying to encourage all to live for Christ. This is reflected in our whole being, in everyday circumstances, where we put our priorities and how we treat others. This is tied in to another phrase that whatever we do, we do it unto the Lord.