OUR GLORY AND JOY
1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
“For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”
There is a difference, isn’t there, between receiving a commission and doing what we can to fulfil it and being given a task by God, seeing it as a wonderful privilege and honour, having a deep desire not to fail God by doing the task sloppily or with disregard to his values and principles (and therefore dishonouring him), and desiring with all your heart to fulfil that task in the best way possible, not only because it is an honour but also because it is a way to express your gratitude at being entrusted with such a commission.
Would we honour God in the same way as Paul did in the things he entrusts to us?
In this chapter, Paul did not say it explicitly, but as you read how carefully he went about sharing the Gospel, you can see how highly he views his commission.
Paul was clearly conscious that he was doing his job under the gaze of God. Therefore, there is no thought of trying to bring people into the kingdom through underhanded ways. “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”
But beyond the rejection of underhanded ways to get results was the embrace of a generous love, a sharing of life, a commitment to doing everything within his power to care for the Thessalonians and to reflect the integrity of the message. “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
Paul understands that the job does not come with a golden ticket that ensures smooth success. There were times when he had to try again and again and again. He understands that he cannot offer prosperity, healing, the resolution of all problems, or even a life of peace and joy, free from suffering. He offers what God offers: the truth of Christ and the way of salvation. And the Thessalonians responded to his word as the word of God. And then Paul went on to spend even more time with them to help them walk on in the truth of God.
Paul did not tell us what it means to him to be “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” but he tells us in no uncertain terms what those who respond to the Gospel meant to him:
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?”