Many people spend their whole lives seeking to get the approval of other people, or trying to please them. It isn’t always bad to want the approval of others, or to try to please others. We certainly want to have our boss’s approval. It is also nice to please one’s parents or spouse, or to get their approval. However, when seeking to please or get the approval of anyone means we change our actions or behavior from what we know is right to what we know is questionable or wrong, then their approval is certainly not worth it. In our Scripture today the Apostle Paul shares with the church in Thessalonica about getting approval and pleasing people.
An account of the Apostle Paul’s ministry is recorded throughout the Book of Acts. We read there of his various missionary journeys around the Mediterranean world. Frequently he ran into conflict with the Jewish religious leaders, and often had to flee for his life. This occurred right prior to his arrival to Thessalonica, when he left Philippi, and then again when he had to quickly flee Thessalonica, and then again in Berea. Paul certainly hadn’t twisted his message to gain these opponents approval. As he testifies in his Epistle here, he only cared about what one “Person” thought about him, and that was God (vs. 4). Everything Paul did revolved around what the Father wanted, what He liked, valued, and asked him to to do.
Many preachers today, and throughout history, have twisted the Gospel message they preach in order to please their audience, and also in order to avoid conflict with anyone. We also know many preachers who have tailored their messages in order to gain big offerings. That wasn’t the case with Paul. He was not looking to gain money, fame, or popularity by preaching the Gospel (vs. 3). Rather, both Paul and his companion Silas had suffered persecution for preaching the Gospel. His message was true, not false or full of errors. His lifestyle was pure, not wicked. His methods were authentic, not deceptive.
In order to avoid the harsh opposition and often life-threatening persecution he faced, Paul could have changed his message in order to gain his opponents approval. By doing that he could have stayed in one place much longer. He could have avoided many a beating, stoning, and imprisonment. He may have gained many more people willing to follow him. However, Paul was not going to change his message to make it more acceptable. He did not seek the praise of anyone. Paul was not some smooth-talking preacher, trying to make a favorable impression. Nor did he try to get rich in the ministry or seek his own personal glory. How many ministers today can we say that of? All too many ministers, especially so many televangelists, are doing exactly that - tailoring their messages for the audience, promoting their own glory, and getting rich.
Do we find ourselves doing the same? Do we water down the Gospel message in order to make it seemingly more palatable to some we might be talking to? Are we changing the Gospel message in order to make sure that we do not offend anyone? As the Apostle Paul said, the only one’s approval that matters is God. To receive His approval, we need to turn from seeking the approval of others, and allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus. The Lord Jesus did not water down His message. He did not care whether what He said offended the Pharisees and other religious leaders of His day. Nor did Jesus preach messages that would bring in big offerings so that He could live a comfortable life. Rather, Jesus preached God’s message exactly as it was, whether that pleased others or not. Paul followed that example, as well.
This did not mean that Paul was harsh with the people he ministered to. On the contrary, Paul treated them with love and gentleness, just like a mother does to her little children (vs. 7-8). Paul had a gracious spirit. He was tender and had compassion. People aren’t likely to believe our message if our lives do not show the love of Jesus. Our life should reflect His.
If we are pleasing God and living for Him, we don’t have to worry about whether people like what we do or what we say. Like Paul, let’s be sure that we are seeking God’s approval, and not that of others, when we tell others the truth from the Word of God.
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