1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Let’s go:
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV)
1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men 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 men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,
7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
On verses 1-12: In this passage we get an inside look at what made Paul and his companions such excellent ministers of the gospel and such excellent leaders.
You too are called to be a leader, whether it’s in your home, your workplace, your school, your church, or a team you lead. Here are 10 traits of excellent leaders we learn from today’s passage:
1. Excellent leaders don’t let fear or suffering keep them from chasing the dream God has placed in their heart. Paul and his companions “had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi” (v2). They faced “strong opposition”. Still “with the help of our God” they “dared to proclaim the gospel” to the city of Thessalonica (v2). Excellent leaders push through pain to get to their dream.
2. Excellent leaders do a self-check. As Paul writes in verse 3, “the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.” In other words, excellent leaders check two things. First, they check their facts to ensure they are not in error. Second, they check their hearts to ensure their motives are pure.
3. Excellent leaders are focused on pleasing God, not people. Paul writes in verse 4, “We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts” (v4). Excellent leaders are not people-pleasers who are enslaved to people’s opinions. Rather they make wise decisions that please God, even if those decisions are not well received by everyone.
4. Excellent leaders do not use flattery. As Paul says, “we never used flattery” (v5). Flattery is the opposite of gossip. Gossip is speaking mean and untrue words about a person behind their back. Flattery is speaking nice but insincere things about a person to their face. Usually when a person uses flattery, it’s for personal gain, not for truly building the other person up. Excellent leaders build people up with truth rather than seeking personal gain with flattery. As Paul says in verse 3, “we are not trying to trick you” (v3).
5. Excellent leaders do not live for people’s praise. Verse 6 says, “We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else”. Jesus once noted that the Pharisees were insecure leaders because “they love praise from men more than praise from God” (John 12:43). Excellent leaders realize that life is not a popularity contest. Excellent leaders live for an audience of One.
6. Excellent leaders care for the people they lead. In verses 7-8 Paul writes, “we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children…you had become so dear to us.” In other words, excellent leaders are not just there to push an agenda. Rather, they genuinely love and care for the people they lead.
7. Excellent leaders connect with those they lead on a personal level. Verse 8 says, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well”. In other words, Paul and his team opened up not just their Bibles to the people they led, but their hearts and lives as well. Excellent leaders find ways to connect with the people they lead on a personal level.
8. Excellent leaders work hard. In verse 9, Paul reminds his church of the “toil and hardship” he and his team went through. As pastors and missionaries they were absolutely entitled to receive financial support from the church they were leading, but instead they chose to work a second job so that the church did not need to support them financially (v9). Paul and his team went above and beyond the call of duty.
9. Excellent leaders have exemplary character. Verse 10 says “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.” Excellent leaders are not just talented. They also have character worth following. As Paul says elsewhere, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
10. Excellent leaders encourage those they lead to dream big and to live for God’s glory. In verses 11 and 12, Paul writes, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” In other words, the aim of Paul’s leadership was not to gain glory for himself, but to help the people he led to live for a purpose bigger than themselves, to dream big and to do it all for God’s glory.
Those are 10 things that excellent leaders do. Which of these 10 traits do you need to work on the most?
With leadership like that, it’s no wonder Paul’s last visit to the church in Thessalonica was a success and “not without results” (v1). You too are called to be a leader. I pray that you too would demonstrate these 10 traits in the way you lead others, whether it’s at home, at church, in the workplace or elsewhere.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the greatest leader. In the way I lead I pray that I would demonstrate these 10 traits and be a more effective leader like You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
