⁶ … even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. ⁷But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.

Power structures exist at all levels of society. The pecking order is real, although not always apparent. The church is no exception, nor is the Christian movement in general. However, Jesus had a different view of the positional structure among believers:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve …” (Matt. 20:25–28).

Paul understood this and lived out the servant lifestyle. He often referred to himself as a “bond-servant” of Christ Jesus (e.g. Phil., 1:1, Col. 1:7). The irony comes across starkly in view of his position as an apostle. By rights, humanly speaking, Paul’s status—as one of the chief exponents of the Christian faith and the primary instrument in its spread—could afford him a tremendous authority. And the same case could be made for the other recognized apostles. Historians all agree that the early church weighed their teachings as greater than that of all other purveyors of Christian sentiments. In fact, Paul wrote emphatically that the church was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone …” (Eph. 2:20). Yes, Paul did have authority by virtue of his foundational status as an apostle. And that would place him near the top of the proverbial pecking order of power.

But following the example of Christ, he did not use that power for his own gain, and he invites all others to follow his example. He was a power inverter. In electrical terms, a power inverter is a device that converts a direct current (DC) into an alternating current (AC). Paul is a prime example of inverting the power structure inherent in fallen human tendencies! Rather than relying on his supposed power position as an apostle, he converted it to a greater power position, that of a servant.

Notice the metaphor he uses to describe his behavior toward the Thessalonians. There is no greater dedication and sacrifice for the sake of others than that of a mother nursing her children. That is the apostolic example and that is how we should behave in our care for one another.

Lord, I want to be a power inverter for Christ by being a servant of all.