Approval

Introduction

Bobby Valentine managed the professional baseball team Boston Red Sox for one year in 2012. In July of that year, a reporter asked him to defend himself for arriving late to the ballpark one afternoon. Valentine and his team were in the midst of a terrible losing streak. They lost so many games that year that Valentine was fired at the end of the season. Valentine took the question about arriving late as a personal affront to his integrity. The question was coupled with a statement that Valentine had already given up on the season. That he had “checked out” for the remainder of the season. Valentine in his response reported that while he arrived later than normal to the ballpark he was not late. But the reason for his delay. His son was flying into the Seattle airport and had a layover for a connecting flight. Unfortunately, his son’s flight was delayed and this is why he was later than normal getting to the ballpark. Valentine said, “to see my son for a couple hours more, I think is more than worth the tradeoff of sitting around in my underwear for two hours here in the clubhouse.”

It is said about integrity that it is hard to earn but once lost is almost impossible to regain. As one has said, “A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.” In our text, Paul’s integrity is questioned by those who oppose him. His response is to those who support him. Why? So that they will not give up on the gospel. As he says in 2:20, these believers are his glory and joy. Today’s text is personal. Sermons are not often lifted from such personal texts but it imperative that we see not only how invested Paul is with this group but to learn that his motivation can be our motivation as well.

Recollection

Paul arrived in Thessalonica from Philippi. Things had been especially difficult in Philippi. If you will look back at Acts 16, you will discover the issues. Paul and Silas had some success in preaching the gospel in Philippi. But they also had some real problems. After healing a young lady with an evil spirit, her masters had them thrown into prison. Here they were beaten, placed in stocks, and left as common criminals. Singing songs of praise at midnight, God sent an earthquake and the jailor and his family were taught the gospel and they responded in baptism.

Paul had told his readers about the events at Philippi. He didn’t arrive in the city trying to hide anything. He came to preach and teach. He came with boldness even though he was hurting from the experience at Philippi. We have to be impressed with a person who keeps going even thought opposition is stiff. Such is what Paul found in Thessalonica. After preaching in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, opposition comes. Trouble flairs up again just as he had in Philippi. Where does this courage come from? Verse 2—God.

Paul knew the truth—the gospel was preached not out of his own courage but by the courage that God supplied. In Paul’s day, oration was a valued skill. People traveled throughout the world, speaking about new and old ideas. These philosophers were compensated through their speaking and when they found a strong acceptance in a place, they would remain for extended periods of time. These speakers may believe what they were saying but without financial support they could not survive. So often they had to resort to flattery and trickery in order to get people to support them. They were not people of pure motives. With this in mind, Paul defends his integrity against his critics.

Verse 3, Paul says they did not come with error. This could mean that their message did not contain error or that their personal lives were not defective. Either is possible. The idea seems to be that Paul did not come to Thessalonica to defraud them or to lead them into error for his own personal gain. Nor did they come with impure motives. They only wanted what was best for them. Finally, he denies that they tried to trick his readers. Paul uses a word that means to use bait to catch a fish. Paul did not try to get use the means to get them to accept what he said hook, line, and sinker. No deception or tricks.

Instead, verse 4, he came with God’s approval and with a heart that was set on pleasing God. Verse 5, they didn’t use flattery. “I can tell that you are wise people;” “You are too smart for me. I couldn’t fool you.” No flattery. Unlike the traveling philosophers, Paul didn’t use words to lure them. Nor did he come with a motive of greed. As he will say in 2:9, he worked so that the people didn’t have to give money to him. Finally, verse 6, he wasn’t looking for human praise. Paul calls it glory. He wasn’t looking for glory. No pedestal for him. Epictetus (a philosopher who lived in Rome toward the end of the first century) describes an orator who demanded his audience “Praise me!” In response to the crowd’s question, “What do you mean by praise?” he answered: “Cry Bravo! Marvelous!” Paul says they did not seek honor from the Thessalonians or any one else from any other place.

Application

What are we to learn from this text? This text is personal. We have to be careful about how we apply it, but I believe there are two lessons that can be discerned. These lessons are really intertwined rather than separate. The first lesson has to do with being a person of integrity. Integrity has to do with honesty but it also has to do with not being divided in thought and action or purpose and action. We know a person’s integrity by their actions. Honesty is real when it is seen. Moral character may be in your heart but if it isn’t in your actions then, it isn’t real.

Two lawyers set up a partnership and agreed to divide all their income equally. On their first day in business, a man made an appointment for some advice. “That will be $100,” said one of the lawyers. The client gave him the cash, but unknown to him, there were two notes stuck together. The lawyer was confronted with his first ethical dilemma: Should he tell his partner about the extra cash?

Many of the tests I give students is based on the honor system. I have a standard speech before the first test. Life is filled with challenges to our integrity. The type of person you are comes out in taking a test.

As followers of Jesus, our integrity matters not so that we impress people but so that God is honored. Our lives reflect him.

This leads to the second lesson. We do not seek glory from people but from God. There are a lot of folks who are people pleasers. They worry so much about what others think of them that they will do or say things that violate their values in order to fit in. Some are people pleasers to the point that they will do whatever they can to avoid conflict. Some please people to the point of being miserable because their integrity is divided.

There are some who are not people pleasers but they seek to please themselves. “I don’t care what you think” may be a statement of pride and rebellion. Part of living in this world is to be in relationship. It is a balancing act of being in relationship while maintaining your integrity.

I am reminded of John 8. The religious leaders challenge the claims of Jesus that he is the Son of God. Jesus’ response is clear and direct. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.

Jesus appeals to the conduct of his life as proof that he is who he is. We are not perfect as Jesus was, but is the attitude of our heart to always do what pleases Father? This is not easy. There are times that you will think of yourself first before Jesus. Can you say that your heart and attitude is about looking for praise, honor, and glory from people or from God?

What will that look in your home? Decisions about money, leisure, entertainment, communication, how you treat each other will be about God. What will that look like in your work? You begin to recognize that you work for God not for yourself. What will that look like in your relationships? Can you imagine relationships based on pleasing God rather than pleasing people?

But we are afraid many times. We are afraid of being alone. We are afraid of rejection. Being embarrassed. Paul came to Thessalonica still bearing the scars of a beating he took in Philippi both physically and emotionally. What sustained him? The help from God. Invitation.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.