When Jesus was on the earth, what was He motivated by? He came to do His Father’s will. He came to seek and to save those who were lost. He came to heal the broken in body and in spirit; to free those who were imprisoned by sin and shame.
What was Jesus’ motivation?
“Love. ”
We have been studying the book of 1 Thessalonians and we see that in this letter to this church in Thessaloniki, Paul, Timothy and Silas were reflecting Jesus’ motivation for all they had done. They were motivated by God's love for the lost and for His church.
And they were looking for far more than internal or external temporal rewards, they were looking forward to an eternal reward that would be awaiting them when they stepped into eternity.
1 Thessalonians 2:9-20
9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:9-20)
This passage speaks about Paul, Silas and Timothy’s
Testimony (9-12) - (how they lived among them and why)
Teaching (what they said and its effect)
True Reward (the motivation for all they went through)
Their Testimony
After Paul was forced to leave the Thessaloniki because of the threat of violence against him, certain Jews began to spread rumors about Paul, Silas, and Timothy and their motivations for being there. The accusations against these men of God is that they were in the “ministry” for personal gain, glory or greed and even their teaching was quite questionable.
They were also accused of abandoning the church when the persecution began. But Paul wanted to make it clear that these accusations were far from the truth and that he had no ulterior motives. Neither did he use slick rhetoric or manipulation to convince them to believe the Word of God.
The investment Paul and the others had made in this church was for their benefit. They were called by God and motivated by His love. Paul’s joy was to deepen, strengthen, and intensify their relationship with the Lord — by modeling what it means to walk with God, by preaching and teaching them the Word of God, by pointing them to the work and calling of God.
In v. 9 Paul said, surely you remember how we lived among you. The whole time we were there with you, we were not there for personal gain, glory or greed.
Paul, Timothy and Silas didn’t just share words, but their lives, not just doctrines, but their hearts.
Even their motive for working a second job was so they would not be a financial burden on the church. Their love for the Thessalonians was revealed by their willingness to endure trouble, being shamefully treated, the pain of arduous work, early mornings, late nights, overcoming difficulties and opposition so that the church would be equipped to follow and fulfill their God-given purpose on the earth. In fact, nothing held them back from declaring the gospel with boldness in the midst of incredible conflict (1 Thess 2:2).
Paul, Silas, and Timothy laid down their lives for the church. This was their testimony - the outcome of their faith.
Teaching
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
They were hearing the very word of God. The word “heard” means to listen with the view of obeying it. They listened to the Word, believed it, received it, and it was supernaturally working in their lives.
How is it, then, that a Christian can hear the Word, week after week, year after year and never change? Never show any signs of growth, fruit, or spiritual or emotional maturity?
The Word didn’t benefit them because they didn’t take the step of faith and put it into practice. This is a choice.
Many people in the church hear the Word but don’t serve, they believe the Bible but don’t invest what they have received into the lives of others.
They have determined to live their own lives so are not making a difference in the lives of others, they are not making disciples like Jesus commanded them to, there is no iron sharpening iron. They neither desire nor have any intention to become more like Christ but want Christ to fit into their lives. This is why they never grow, never change.
But when a person does take the Word they hear, believes it, receives it into their heart, and allows the Holy Spirit to do His work in his or her life, the Word accomplishes its purpose and causes growth and maturity.
Whatever you plant, will have its harvest. This is what the Word of God does in a person’s life.
The Word is powerful and works in us as a seed (1 Pet 1:23), a lamp (Ps 119:105), as a sword (Heb 4:12), a hammer (Jer 23:29), a fire (Jer 20:9), as nourishment (1 Pet 2:2), and a mirror, reflecting who I am (James 1:21-25).
God’s Word purifies me, nourishes my soul, gives me wisdom and discernment and a faith vision beyond myself. And like a mirror reflects back to me what I look like, when you look into the Word, it reflects an accurate image of who you are spiritually, morally and ethically.
The Word shows us our need for Christ, that we were made in God’s image, and that He desires that every day we would reflect that image more and more.
The Word is like a mirror, it reflects the truth of where we are with God.
This is the outcome of what the Word did in Thessaloniki - it brought salvation, it turned them from idols to serve a living God, it changed their lives, it gave them hope. And this is what the disciples experienced, this was the outcome of their investment, of preaching and teaching the Gospel.
Their True Reward
In vv. 17-20, Paul called them “adelphoi” - family. Paul was saying I didn’t abandon you; I was forced out of Thessaloniki and it was like being torn away from my family, it was like suddenly being orphaned. Although you were out of sight, you were always on my mind.
Out of our intense longing (of heart) we made every effort again and again to see you face to face - to be in your presence. Obviously, writing letters was not enough. It was Paul’s intense desire to be with them which he tried to do but was hindered by Satan.
In the end, what was Paul, Silas and Timothy’s motive for pouring out their lives, preaching the word of God and pointing people to the Lord?
“So that many would come into the Kingdom, so that lives would be changed. ”
We can see in fact that their work was not in vain as many are still coming into the Kingdom of God.
At some point we need to ask ourselves an honest question:
“where do I derive my motivation from – what drives me?”
What am I ultimately living for? What am I truly accomplishing for the Kingdom of God? God wants me to go beyond merely looking for an internal and external reward (which are not bad in themselves) but God wants me to yield my life unto him, and to pour my life out for others, and when that happens there will be an eternal reward.
