Thessalonians 2: Living to Please God

Christian Ministry

1 Thess. 2:1-

Have you ever been entrusted with anything? Have you ever been given or assigned the responsibility for doing something, or doing something for someone?

In the workplace? Yes. As a parent? Yes. We get it.

Now, as a Christian:

There is a trust that is given. There is an assignment and or responsibility given… and for the Christian servant, for any Christian that seeks to serve Christ...

You have been entrusted with the Good News, the same Good News you have received.

And now you have been entrusted to take this Good News and lives it out. You are entrusted with this Good News to make it known...

We are now called to be “Faithful Stewards.” Now, a steward does not own anything, but he possesses and uses everything that belongs to the master.

And the Master call us to be good managers of that which has been entrusted.

Verse 1 - We have labored and You know this was not in vain. Our work here was not in vain. You know this… You see the fruit of the ministry.

Paul and his companions have been entrusted with the Gospel, and they know it.

What do they do with it? They give it to others and live out of it in front of others.

Paul speaks to the church here and we see the manner of the ministry:

This ministry was not in vain. You see the Lord’s hand here. You see Him working. You saw us being mistreated; you saw the opposition; and you saw the boldness that we had, speaking the word of God to you… no matter what...

Church you have seen what we have gone through… and we are still here… you are still here… and the Word is still being preached… and people are still being saved, and they are growing up in the faith...

Paul then highlights the message of his ministry:

You know that there is power in this message. We did not come deceiving you, seeking to live off of you… we are not greedy; we do not flatter; we do not seek glory for ourselves, but we seek to glorify God. We do not seek to please men; we seek to please God. This is the Gospel God has given us, the message of Christ’s death and resurrection.

This message is from God and not man.

Next we see the motive and method of the ministry:

The motives were pure. It is possible to do ministry for the wrong reasons and with wrong motives. He is not doing this to get rich. He is not doing this for prestige, nice horses, and bling-bling. He was even willing to other jobs in order to provide for himself as he ministered.

He was not a religious salesman, who was out for himself, and was smooth with his speech.

No, he suffered… and kept on keeping on. People didn’t like him or his message but he kept on keeping on.

He did not use worldly tricks and methods to persuade. He just gave the message and the Lord built His church.

Paul hated flattery (excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests.)

The flatterer is a sinner. The flatterer is a person who manipulates when he communicates. He is seeking to control your decisions for their own profit.

Do not try to win friends by playing the politician, by appealing to their egos. Don’t try to control people, to get what you want… by lying to them...

A true servant deals honestly and lovingly, truthfully, and is kind.

Don’t flatter people. And don’t flatter God. Don’t lie to God. Don’t say things with your tongue and lips, while your hearts are far from Him.

Psalm 78:36 - God’s people have had a history of doing this. And HE does not like this… Not one bit.

Why? You are lying to him and yourself. You are trying to manipulate God to do what you want.

He knows what we are doing.

As a faithful steward, as a Christian servant… don’t flatter. Deal honestly with people. Give them God’s Word, God’s truth and let God work… And HE will.

You are a faithful steward. You have been entrusted with the Gospel of Christ and the Word of God. You have been given a message and a method.

But what are we doing with it and what is our motive?

Is it to honor and to glorify God. Is it to bless His name and to seek to save the lost in Jesus Name?

Or is it all about us?

Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, mighty God. May my motives and intentions be pure. May the labor, never be in vain.