Purity of Motive. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
Dear People of God,
Paul offers a defense of his motives, probably because there were people in Thessalonica who were disparaging him and insinuating evil or selfish motives. On his motivation, he talks first about
What it Is not (v. 3). Paul mentions three common, wrong motivations for those who preach the gospel and says emphatically that he and his companions were not motivated by any of them.
Deviation Some people preach falsehood because they do not know better. They are sincere but sincerely wrong. The need to “Do your best to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) cannot be overemphasized. Let us take advantage of every opportunity to learn so that we do not fall into the trap of error.
Defilement. The second wrong motivation is impurity. When we live in sin, We are often motivated by sinful nature and it is possible even to preach the gospel under impure motives. Sin corrupts our thinking so that we cannot have pure motives.
Deception. Some people mislead others deliberately. They either want a following or they want material gain, so they will lie, in order to get what they want. It is easy to twist the Bible to fit one’s false gospel and selfish motives and we do well to be cautious.
What it Is (v. 4). Paul and his companions were of a different ilk. They were Approved by God. God is ultimately the one who calls. The call of God is personal – to the individual. However, God usu confirms this to the church. In Paul’s case, the Holy Spirit instructed the church at Antioch to “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). Paul did not call himself. God called him and confirmed it to the church of Antioch, which then sent him out.
Appointed for the Gospel. The gospel is a precious treasure. Paul and his companions were entrusted with this treasure, so their focus was singular. They knew why they had left home and country, family and loved ones because they had been entrusted with God’s treasure.
Answerable to God. Paul and his fellow evangelists were not on a mission to please people. Their mandate was given by God and it is God alone that they sought to please. Often, preachers are distracted by people of power and means or the excited crowds. It is important to remember who we are answerable to.
What is our reaction when people expect us to say something, yet we are convinced that God wants us to say something else? That could well be the determinant of who we are answerable to.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.