1 Thessalonians 2:4
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
God entrusts people with the gospel by His permission, and those so entrusted must speak as answerable to Him. Such speaking seeks to please God rather than men, so its message is not shaped to win approval or attract a following, for He tries the heart and knows its motives and sincerity. Faithfulness to that trust requires honesty of motive and conduct free from deceit, impurity, guile, flattery, covetousness, self-seeking, and seeking glory from men. It makes workers bold to speak amid suffering, shame, opposition and discouragement, yet tender like a father and like a nursing mother, joining faithful warning and correction with gentle, affectionate care that gives the worker himself as well as the message. It is done in humility and dependence on God, preaching Christ rather than self, keeping saving truth clear and prominent without flattering words, and looking with joy to presenting converts as glory and crown of rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming.
Entrusted to Please God
The gospel is a trust that God allows men to be put in, and those to whom he entrusts it are to speak it faithfully as ones accountable to him. Paul and his companions took their preaching in Thessalonica in this way, as stewards charged to deliver what God had committed to them. Such speaking is done to please God and not men, so the message is not to be shaped by desire for human approval or to attract an audience. God tries and examines the heart, and therefore he knows the motives and sincerity behind the speaking. It is before him as the trier of hearts that the entrusted speaker stands, and faithfulness to the trust is measured by inward honesty as well as outward utterance.
Faithful Unselfish Ministry
Faithfulness to the trust means speaking with honest motives and conduct kept free from deceit, impurity or uncleanness, guile, flattery, covetousness or cloak of covetousness, self-seeking, and seeking glory or praise from people. The gospel is held as a trust given by God, so the one who speaks is accountable to God who tests and examines the heart, and must aim to please God rather than people. Paul's charge to speak without deceit, impurity, guile, flattery, or covetousness shows that such inward honesty and outward integrity belong to the trust itself.
That trust makes workers bold to speak the gospel with much contention even after suffering and shameful treatment. They preach boldly through opposition, abuse, and discouragement because they seek to please God and not people, knowing God has entrusted them with the gospel and tries the heart. Faithful warning, rebuke, and correction belong with this boldness, joined to tender care like a father and like a mother or nurse cherishing children. The minister is gentle and affectionately desirous rather than burdensome, caring for believers and willing to impart not the gospel only but also his own soul because they are dear.
It requires humility and dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency, preaching Christ rather than self and serving others for his sake. Such workers are guided by Christ's Spirit, bearing the message of truth and speaking from a heart filled with what is pure and sacred. It does thorough work like bringing solid timbers into the structure and binding it off even if far less preaching is accomplished, rather than aiming to please hearers with acceptable speaking that leaves them unhelped. It keeps the saving truth clear and prominent instead of shaping it to attract an audience. No flattering words are to be used to any favorite, for flattery is done at the peril of his soul. It looks with hope and joy to presenting converts in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming as glory and joy and crown of rejoicing. This trust extends to all believers who receive heavenly inspiration and the life of Christ, for the church was established for the salvation of others and those who take its sacred vows pledge themselves to be co-workers with Christ.