May the mumbling commence!
Today, we begin our journey into the first letter to the Thessalonians. It hardly seems like we spent thirty days in Philippians, but we have. Now, we devote thirty days to First Thessalonians.
When we look to serve the Lord, we must be careful to examine our motives. Motive and attitude are just as important to the “what” of what we are doing. Read from First Thessalonians chapter two (Phillips Translation):
My brothers, you know from your own experience that our visit to you was no failure. We had, as you also know, been treated abominably at Philippi, and we came on to you only because God gave us courage. We came to tell you the Gospel, whatever the opposition might be.
Our message to you is true, our motives are pure, our conduct is absolutely above board. We speak under the solemn sense of being trusted by God with the Gospel. We do not aim to please men, but to please God who knows us through and through. No one could ever say, as again you know, that we used flattery to conceal greedy motives, and God himself is witness to our honesty. We made no attempt to win honor from men, either from you or from anybody else, though I suppose as Christ's own messengers we might have done so.
Our attitude among you was one of tenderness, rather like that of a devoted nurse among her babies. Because we loved you, it was a joy to us to give you not only the Gospel of God but our very hearts – so dear did you become to us.
Our struggles and hard work, my brothers, must still be fresh in your minds. Day and night we worked so that our preaching of the Gospel to you might not cost you a penny. You are witnesses, as is God himself, that our life among you believers was honest, straightforward and above criticism.
You will remember how we dealt with each one of you personally, like a father with his own children, stimulating your faith and courage and giving you instruction. Our only object was to help you to live lives worthy of the God who has called you to share the splendour of his kingdom.
And so we are continually thankful that when you heard us preach the word of God you accepted it, not as a mere human message, but as it really is, God's Word, a power in the lives of you who believe. (Verses 1-13)
Our conduct is absolutely above board. Can we make that statement whenever we step into ministry? We should. But what does above board entail?
To be above board means that we do not ebb and flow with the ease of the path we have chosen. Paul and his compatriots did not allow being abominable treatment to divert them from their goal. Just because all is not going well does not necessarily mean that we are off course. In fact, at times, it could show us we are on course with God.
To be above board also mean that we do not ebb and flow with the desires of people. We must construct our ministry with God in mind. We must always be able to answer honestly the question; “How does this ministry please God?” But do not think that if you do please people that you are off track. Sometimes pleasing people is a natural outcome of pleasing God…
To be above board means honesty and transparency in your motives. It means putting on the attitude of tenderness toward those you minister to. Along with the gospel message, above board missionaries give their heart to the people as well… showing them the intense love the Lord has for them.
To be above board requires that we foot most of the bill for ministry. If we get too much monetary support from the people we minster to, then our ministry may become tinged primarily with pleasing the people. And seeking money for preaching to serving might exclude some of the people. That is not acceptable!
To foot your own bill means hard work. There is no way around it. But, in the end, it will lead to an exceedingly good thing. In all these ways, an above-board ministry will help the ministers get out of the way so that the message of Jesus can shine through. Let us seek to be above board in all that we do for Christ Jesus.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
No comments:
Post a Comment