Marks Of A True Steward Of God Series

ES 1 Thess 2:1-6 - Marks of a True Steward of God

Paul’s mission to Thessalonica was brought to a sudden end when the Judaizers – enemies of the Gospel - stirred a public riot and brought charges against them.

• It became so intense that Paul and Silas had to take flight out of the city.

• Such a vacuum could have given the enemies the chance to discredit the Gospel and also slander the missionaries.

• “They were simply not sincere and genuine; they fled and abandoned the church they started.”

And so it seems. Paul wrote back. In the next two chapters, we see how he set the picture right and put away all possible misconceptions.

• Paul rehashed how he came to the Thessalonians and what he did among them, which was known to all.

• He explains why they were forced to leave and their longing to return and see them again.

• 2:17-18 17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavoured the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

In retelling his time with them, Paul models for us the attitudes of a good steward of God who is entrusted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• I like to highlight the INTEGRITY of his ministry and the AUTHENTICITY of his life. Nothing false, nothing fake.

• As stewards of God, these are the lessons we can learn from Paul:

1. Paul’s Ministry is Marked by INTEGRITY, Nothing False.

Paul came to them as an open book. Nothing was hidden.

• 1:5 “You KNOW what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

• 2:1-2 “1For you yourselves KNOW, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you KNOW, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”

• No doubt they HEARD the Gospel from him but they also SAW the way he lived.

Paul said 6 times that they were his witnesses and 3 times God was his witness.

• We read verses 1 and 2 that they KNOW… 2:5 “For we never came with words of flattery, as you KNOW, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.”

• 2:9 “9For you REMEMBER, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

• 2:10 “10You are WITNESSES, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.”

• 2:11 “11For you KNOW how, like a father with his children…” – how we exhorted you and encouraged you…

God is his witness – three times, in 2:4 we “please God who tests our hearts”, 2:5 “God is witness” and 2:10 “You are witnesses and God also…”

• What men cannot see, God sees.

Paul’s conduct among them was public, able to “face the light”. His conduct was open and transparent to the people and to God, both are his witnesses.

• Paul has been honest and true to his calling and he had nothing to hide. That’s integrity.

Apostle Peter wrote this in 1 Peter 3:15-16

• 15But in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame.

• We maintain a “good conscience”, a clear conscience so that any false accusations or slander against us ultimately cannot stand.

• Those who try to malign us will be ashamed of their actions.

Blessed is the man who has nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, who is known for WHO he is and WHAT he does, in Christ.

• He can stand before the God “who tests our hearts” (2:4) without fear.

Some time back, on the cover of the New York Herald Tribune Sunday magazine, was a picture of the Statue of Liberty, taken from a helicopter. From that angle, it showed the top of the statue’s head.

The reporter was amazed at the detail there. The sculptor had done a painstaking job with the lady's face and dress, and yet he must have been thinking that the only eyes that would ever see this detail (from the top of her head) would be the eyes of seagulls. He could not have dreamt that any man would ever fly over this head.