[3] For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, [4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [5] For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. [6] Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. [7] But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. [8] So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (ESV)
1 Thessalonians 2:3–8 ESV
Paul explains his motives for coming to the Thessalonians. He says his "appeal." The Greek word can mean exhortation or appeal. When he and his companions came to them their appeal was not from error or any desire to deceive them. He goes on to explain that their motive is "to please God who tests our hearts." (v.4) Because they wanted to please God and not men (not even their audience), they "never came with words of flattery." (v.5) They came with the simple message of the gospel.
There are many men and women who claim to preach the word of God who DO use words of flattery. They end up trying to please their audiences. Their lifestyles may reveal they came with greedy motives. They claim some authority as ministers of God. But Paul, who was an ACTUAL apostle of God, DID NOT come to his audience this way. Consider this when you listen to various preachers. Are they bringing the simple message of the gospel? Or do they seem more interested in "impressing" you with their flashy appeal? Not all who are good speakers have false motives, but pay attention to the message. Do they stay true to the Scriptures, not twisting the meaning?
Paul says that as apostles of Christ, they COULD HAVE made demands of them. (v.6) But they did not. Rather, they were "gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children." (v.7) I'm not sure in what sense they could have made demands. I do suspect Paul and his companions chose to follow Christ's word in Mark 10,
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45 ESV
Jesus commanded his followers NOT to "lord it over" each other. He commanded them to SERVE, to be a SLAVE. Paul is following this example. He goes on to say that they were very affectionate for the Thessalonians, "you had become very dear to us." (v.8) This caused them to want to not only share the gospel, but to share their LIVES with them. This is what gospel ministry looks like. To the extent that we share in each other's lives and in the gospel, we are mimicking Paul, who was following Christ.
I think this is a standard you can use to assess a church. Do they preach the gospel without greed? Do they let God's word remain as it is without twisting the meaning? Do they love those they meet with? Do they live life and share in the lives of those they meet with? In our next section, we'll see more of Paul's care and concern for those in Thessalonica. For now, remember... God is sovereign.
