Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time! Paul tells the church at Thessalonica that his ministry “was not without result.” Leaders have a goal that drives them. As I have heard John Maxwell say, “They know the way, go the way, and show the way.”
Yet, as Christian leaders, we are not to establish our own direction, but rather be directed by the Word of God. We may be driven more by pragmatism, than Scripture, if we are not cautious. Much of the church world has pointed to success as being large numbers of behinds in the pew and bucks in the plate. While we ought not discount this—the Bible is replete with reports of numbers added and multiplied, as well as large offerings given—we must make sure that this is the byproduct of Biblical directives and not the end in which we make the end justify the means.
The insinuation in evangelicalism today is often that we must connect with the culture in order to win them, and that is true. We must build bridges, but may fail to remember that a bridge goes both ways! We may take the Gospel to the world, but without safeguards the world is brought into the church. Connection with culture can gradually lead to compromise with the culture. Paul is clear that the Gospel was in conflict with the culture (read 1 Thess.2:13-16). It was not popularity, but persecution they received!
The result Paul was aiming for was faithfulness to God and then to trust fruitfulness to God. He could not control how receptive sinners would be to his ministry, but what he could control was his commitment to godly character and diligent service.
THE MEANS OF THE MINISTRY is seen to be the proclamation of “the gospel of God” (v.2). He would not tailor the message to suit the whims of the wicked, lest he promote, “error or impurity.” It was no bait and switch from “an intent to deceive” (v.3). Paul saw the content as well as the communication of the Gospel as a sacred trust (v.4) for which he was ultimately accountable not to men, but God. The Apostle would not resort to “flattering speech,” to gain a convert to himself (v.5), for that is all they would be—and not a convert to Christ!
Let me move to THE MANNER OF THE MINISTRY. There was boldness in the face of opposition (v.2). He was no spineless, sniveling coward, but a man with courage of conviction.
Yet, he was not a Bible bully, obnoxiously offending others for the sake of a fight. Instead, he asserts, “we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children” (v.7). He fed them truth with the tenderness. As a mother pours her very life into her children, so Paul invested himself in feeding and caring for them (v.8). How often, do mothers rise in the middle of the night to comfort a sick child or console a scared one? The Apostle was relentless in his activity, just like that, “Working night and day” (v.9)
There is another side to spiritual parenting—discipleship—and that is the exhortation of a father. Paul describes the manner of his ministry this way, “like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to live worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” (v.11-12). Good fathers have a passion to instill purpose in children—to paint a future plan for them and prepare them to attain it.
Paul’s manner might be summed up this way, “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves” (v.10). These are matters of character. The leader’s character is the foundation of his ministry. If it is undermined, then sooner or later a storm will bring down what he has built—outwardly impressive though it may have been.
Let us conclude with THE MOTIVES OF THE MINISTRY. If the gospel of God is our means of service, then the glory of God is our motive. Twice, Paul mentions, “glory,” in these verses. This is the overarching motivation for ministry—the spring from which all other proper motives flow. The Apostle “didn’t seek glory from people,” (v.6). He had no craving for the spotlight—as many Christian celebrities do today—but, sought the glory of God (v.12). He was not building his own little kingdom, but was motivated to promote the kingdom of God. Paul had no “intent to deceive” (v.3). He was not motivated to beguile followers by doctrinal deviation, as some cult leader would do.
Another motivating factor was an awareness of eternal accountability (v.4). Pleasing God was his aim, not pleasing people. In fact, if you please God, you will often displease people! Our motivation should be to hear our Lord say, “Well done!” In this we “live worthy of God,” (v.11). Our motive is a ministry that is suited to the high and holy calling we have received. Eternal reward and not temporal gain is what moves us. Paul’s example was not to have, “greedy motives.” There is always a danger that we may do the right thing, but with the wrong motive, and that makes it still wrong!
I hear you Paul! That is my prayerful desire—to fully embrace the right means, manner, and motives in ministry. I implore you to do likewise!
