1 Thessalonians 2:1-7: a reflection

1For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, 2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. 3For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. 4But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak—not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Paul describes the integrity with which he ministered to the Thessalonians. He did not use flattering words, nor act out of greed, nor seek glory from people; he spoke not to please people but to please God, who tests the heart. His aim was not human approval or gain, but faithfulness to God who had entrusted him with the gospel. And with that integrity of motive went gentleness: he was gentle among them, he says, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

Notice the motive that governed Paul's ministry: to please God, not people. He did not flatter to win favor, or serve for gain, or seek the praise of people; he sought to please God, who tests the heart, and to be faithful to the trust God had given him. His eye was on God's approval, not human approval; and so he was free from flattery and greed and the craving for glory, serving with integrity and gentleness. To please God, not people, was the aim that kept him true.

That aim, to please God rather than people, is one that keeps us true, and worth taking as our own. We can be governed by the desire to please people, to win their approval and praise; and this can lead us into flattery, into serving for what we can get, into craving human glory. But Paul sought to please God, who tests the heart, not people; and this freed him to serve with integrity. Let your aim be to please God, who tests the heart, rather than to win the approval and praise of people. When you are tempted to flatter, to serve for gain, or to crave human glory, remember that God tests the heart, and seek to please him, not people. The desire to please people leads astray; the desire to please God, who sees the heart, keeps us true. Serve, as Paul served, to please God and not people, with integrity of motive and gentleness of manner, seeking his approval above all.

Lord, Paul described the integrity with which he ministered: not using flattering words, nor acting out of greed, nor seeking glory from people, but speaking to please you, who test the heart, and serving with gentleness, like a nursing mother. Let his aim, to please you rather than people, be one I take as my own, for it keeps me true. I can be governed by the desire to please people, to win their approval and praise; and this can lead me into flattery, into serving for what I can get, into craving human glory. But Paul sought to please you, who test the heart, not people; and this freed him to serve with integrity. Let my aim be to please you, who test the heart, rather than to win the approval and praise of people. When I am tempted to flatter, to serve for gain, or to crave human glory, help me remember that you test the heart, and seek to please you, not people. The desire to please people leads astray; the desire to please you, who see the heart, keeps me true. Help me serve, as Paul served, to please you and not people, with integrity of motive and gentleness of manner, seeking your approval above all, Lord.