Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 CEB

Our appeal isn’t based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception. Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that’s exactly how we speak. We aren’t trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continues to examine our hearts.

Consider

From the time of Paul until the present, people have been skeptical of the good news of Christ. In Paul’s time, scam artists and false healers had come among the believers in Thessalonica and given traveling preachers like Paul a bad reputation. Paul writes to convince the church that they can trust the good news he presented to them when they became believers. He distinguishes himself from the charlatans by contrasting methods and motives—instead of peddling lies and false hope to satisfy greedy ambitions, Paul and his companions are “holy, just, and blameless” toward the believers and motivated only by such love as a parent would show his children (vv. 10-11).

Knowing their suspicions, Paul defends the integrity of his message by behaving scrupulously. He speaks plainly and works to support himself so that he need not take any money from them. Moreover, he emphasizes that God Himself examined and approved him for his holy task of evangelism. Paul makes it clear that he wants and needs nothing from the church. He seeks approval from God alone, so he has no reason to deceive or mislead anyone. They can trust him and the message he brings.

In our time, people remain suspicious of Christ’s messengers. “Hypocrite” is one of the most common descriptions applied to Christians today. If we want to be effective witnesses for our faith, we must follow Paul’s example and take special care to speak and act with integrity. Like Paul, we submit ourselves to God’s examination and confess the selfish motivations and behaviors we use to serve our own interests but cause others to doubt us and, worse, to doubt the integrity of the gospel we profess.

When seeking God’s approval becomes our first priority, we can learn to let go of our need to be admired and approved by others. Loving and serving God first frees us to love and serve others without concern for ourselves and without resorting to lies and manipulations. As our behaviors align with what we claim to believe, people have reason to trust us and the message of hope we bring.

Pray

Father, in a world full of trickery and suspicious motives, you call me to holiness and integrity for the sake of your Name. Help me toward a life that is “holy, just, and blameless” that I might be a beacon of light for people who need to know you. Continue to examine my heart that you might approve and trust me to carry your light into my relationships.

Reflect

Matthew 15:3-9; Romans 8:5-8

Ponder

When has my need to be accepted compromised my witness for the gospel?