Whose Approval Are You Seeking?


1 Thessalonians 2:4-7
4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children 8 so we cared for you. 
Paul shows his pastoral heart once again and points out an aspect of his ministry that is esstential for him.  Paul's primary calling is to preach the gospel.  In another passage he says he is called to preach the gospel "in season and out of season."  And he prefers it to be "free of charge".  Paul never used his calling as a reason to be prideful or expect others to think more highly of him than they ought.  He considered himself, "one beggar giving another beggar a piece of bread".  Today he focuses on a very important aspect of this calling and how they handled themselves as a apostles. 
Paul says he never used flattery or greed to get their work done.  His goal was never to get men's applause but he served an "audience of one".  Because Paul was so deeply committed to do God's will and serving him alone, he did not feel the need to manipulate or "coddle" people unnecessarily.  Paul had a deep love for the people he reached with the gospel. As he says he cared for them like a "mother nursing her children".  Paul loved those he served but never placated them.  He often needed tough love to iron issues that were preventing the spread of the gospel.  Paul leadership qualities should be emulated by all leaders in the Christian church.  
Where do you find yourself needing the approval of others?  What is at the root of you need this approval?  How could you be so content with God's approval that you wouldn't need human approval?  How might this change your life? 

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