Sunday, May 7 Oil and incense make the heart rejoice; so does sweet friendship springing from sincere counsel.​—Prov. 27:9.

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Sunday, May 7

Oil and incense make the heart rejoice; so does sweet friendship springing from sincere counsel.—Prov. 27:9.

 

The apostle Paul set a good example as an elder. For instance, when the brothers in Thessalonica needed counsel, Paul did not hesitate to give it. However, in his letters to them, Paul first took note of their faithful work, their loving labor, and their endurance. He also considered their circumstances, kindly acknowledging that their life was not easy and that they were bearing up under persecution. (1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:4) He even told those brothers that they were an example to other Christians. (1 Thess. 1:8, 9) How happy they must have been to receive Paul’s warm commendation! There could be no doubt that Paul loved his brothers very much. That is why he was able to give effective counsel in both of his letters to the Thessalonians.—1 Thess. 4:1, 3-5, 11; 2 Thess. 3:11, 12. w22.02 15 ¶6