1 THESSALONIANS 2
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
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.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Paul studiously refrained from courting praise
Had Paul sought the praise of men he would have had to have pandered to the flesh, and by so doing he would have become an unprofitable servant-
"If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. i. 10.)
But as God has implanted in man the love of approbation, it is well to recognise it, and to endeavour to regulate it by divine counsel. God's praise is the only praise a man is permitted to strive for. If this be secured, it is of little consequence whether the praise of man follows or not.
Those who seek the praise of men will either weave a net for their own destruction, or become miserably disappointed. Those who seek the praise of men are generally given to self-exaltation.
"Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips"
(Prov. xxvii. 2.)
Aim at obtaining God's praise, and you will doubtless call forth the praise of all those whose praise is worth receiving. Remember that few know how, or what to praise. Praise from the majority of men is to be eschewed.
Bro A Jannaway
The Christadelphian, Nov 1887
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The Spirit's teaching.
Bible names for Bible things; no human nomenclature can better designate the things of the Spirit than the Spirit's own words and phrases.
Herald, June 1853.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Whilst Christ tarries we must plod on, and do our best, never forgetting that it is by Christadelphian preaching that God is accomplishing the greatest work on earth-that of saving perishing men and women.
Let us not be discouraged by present results-rather let the future outcome of our apparently feeble work brighten and buoy us up. Let us contemplate the pleasure we shall have in being introduced to some, however small the number, who, through our instrumentality, will have been made immortal!
Bro AT Jannaway
The Christadelphian, Oct 1905