Paul recently planted the church in Thessalonica but had to leave after a month because of persecution. He was concerned for these new believers and sent Timothy to them to strengthen them and find out how their faith was doing. Having heard Timothy’s good report, he wrote his epistle to confirm their faith and encourage them in the Lord.
1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed – God is our witness.
6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,
7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (1. Thes. 2:1-8)
In these verses he cares for these believers in three ways:
1. By giving them God’s message
2. By being sincere messengers
3. By imitating mothers in their care for their children
God’s message
God’s message is His Gospel, which is from Him and about Him.
9 …for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1. Thes. 1:9-10)
In those verses, Paul gives the ‘good news’, and tells us that the Gospel is about a living God we turn to and trust, and we wait on His Son who rescues us from the judgment due to our sin.
The believers in Thessalonica trusted this news and saw God working in power and by His Spirit in them and giving them assurance of its truth.
Sincere Messengers
Paul differentiated himself from other preachers by not giving this message in error (wrong content), impurity (wrong motives), or in deceit (wrong methods).
Instead, …
he spoke in boldness in God, which He gives in our relationship with Him.
Application: How well do we know the Gospel and see its necessity? How can our boldness in God help us to speak as we should?
God’s messengers have been given an assignment from Him to be entrusted with His Gospel. We live and speak in light of this commission.
“We do not seek to please men but God. ”
Paul further contrasts his actions from other street preachers in not doing these three things:
He did not flatter to manipulate
He did not deceive them for money
He did not try to get fame and notoriety
All of these actions stem from selfishness. We can “minister” to others but really do it to help ourselves.
Application: We can check our motives before and after our service to see if we did it to please the Lord or really more ourselves.
Imitating Mothers
Paul continues his description of messengers by comparing his actions to a mom with a newborn child. Paul proved his character through his gentleness, which is like a mom focusing fully on the tender care of her child and not on herself. Paul loved those he served and had an emotional bond with them. It was not a business relationship.
He was more than willing to give his two most precious gifts - God’s message and his own life.
It was not based on the worthiness of the recipients but on his love. They became dear to him. A mom illustrates this well and Paul acted like one.
Application: Do I really love those I serve, even if they are not easy to love? We are the Lord’s beloved so we can treat those we serve as beloved as well.
By giving God’s message, being truthful messengers, and having a love like a mom for her baby, we can care for others in a way that will really help them.
