Our bible reading is taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6. I read from the New Living Translation, You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] that our visit to you was not a failure. 2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. 3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
So this was Apostle Paul writing to the Church in Thessalonica, he told them clearly that is objective of preaching to them was to please God and not man. He said he never used sweet words t o flatter them . And he never deceived them just so that they could give him money. He said he was not preaching to them so that anyone will appreciate or praise him. All he did was just to glorify God.
Today in the Church we cannot tell people the truth because we are afraid that we will offend them or will be seen to be judgmental. If a member of the church has questionable wealth, we know he is just a civil servant and has no other known source of wealth, yet gives millions in offering and tithes. Because of the fear of losing his money several pastors will not ask him the source of his wealth. We know a couple are not married yet they are living together, but because they are consistent members we would say, “what is my business” and will not call them to ask them. Or you know a Sister who sings in the choir are clothes are always revealing and tightly fitted. You know that many men are dwelling on her body rather than worshipping God. Yet you say it does not matter she has the best voice in the choir, the men should control themselves and not lust after her. If you see someone in doing something that does not please God and keep quiet because you don’t want to be seen as judgmental or hurt the person, you are also guilty. James 4:17 says , If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. Galatians 6:1 says Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. So you need to correct the person in love, also be careful that you are not guilty of the same thing. Find a way indirectly telling them, yet make sure they understand what you are saying, keeping quiet is not the solution.
Many times, we are afraid of correcting people so that we don’t lose membership in churches. But membership does not necessarily mean salvation. It is better to have few people in a church that are genuinely saved that a multitude of people deceiving themselves. Paul said his preaching was not for profit, it was to please God and not men. The bible tells us in 2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. So it better to go where you will hear the truth no matter how bitter, than to listen to lies that are sweet, but will destroy your soul. Wish you a blessed day.
