August 21 2026

August 21 Friday

1 Thessalonians 2:5

“Nothing to Hide”

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. Today we continue our journey through 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. Yesterday we looked at verses 3 and 4, where Paul reminded us that God has “put us in trust with the gospel.” Because the gospel has been entrusted to us by God, our desire should never be simply to please people, but to please God, “which test our hearts.” Now in verse 5, Paul continues to describe the purity of his motives and the integrity of his ministry. He writes: “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.” There are two very important statements in this verse. Paul says, first, “Neither at any time used we flattering words.” And then he says, “Nor a cloak of covetousness.”

Paul is reminding these believers that when he came to Thessalonica, he wasn't trying to manipulate them with his words, and he wasn't trying to get something from them for himself. Let's think first about “flattering words.” There is a difference between encouragement and flattery. We should encourage people. We should express appreciation. We should tell people when we are thankful for them. There is nothing wrong with giving an honest compliment. But flattery is different. Encouragement is given for the benefit of the other person. Flattery is often given for the benefit of ourselves. Flattery says something nice because we want something in return. We may want someone's approval. We may want their support. We may want them to like us. We may even want to influence them for our own advantage.

Paul says, “That wasn't how we ministered among you.” He wasn't trying to tell people what they wanted to hear. He was telling them what God wanted them to hear. That's an important distinction. Paul would later write in 2 Timothy 4:3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” There will always be a temptation to change the message so that people will like the messenger. But if God has put us in trust with the gospel, as we saw yesterday, we don't have the right to change the message simply to make it more acceptable. Sometimes God's Word comforts us. Sometimes God's Word encourages us. But sometimes God's Word convicts us. Sometimes it tells us something we would rather not hear. A faithful servant of God doesn't ask, “What will make people happy?” He asks, “What has God said?”

Then Paul mentions something else: “Nor a cloak of covetousness.” A cloak is something that covers something else. Paul is saying, “We didn't use religion as a covering for greed.” He wasn't preaching the gospel because he wanted to get rich. He wasn't serving these people because he wanted their money. He wasn't using ministry to advance himself. Paul's ministry wasn't about what he could get from people. It was about what he could give to people. And what did he want to give them? The gospel of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, through the years there have always been people who have used religion for personal gain. But the problem isn't only money. Covetousness is the desire to have more for ourselves. We can covet money. We can covet possessions. We can covet position. We can covet recognition. We can even covet the praise and admiration of other people.

That's why Paul's final statement in this verse is so important. He says: “God is witness.” Earlier in the verse Paul said, “as you know.” The Thessalonians knew how Paul had lived among them. But when Paul talked about the motives of his heart, he said: “God is witness.” People can see our actions. But only God can completely see our motives. People hear what we say. God knows why we say it. People see what we do. God knows why we do it. We might be able to hide our motives from other people, but we can never hide them from God. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” That should cause every one of us to examine our hearts. Why do I do what I do? Why do I serve? Why do I give? Why do I speak? Why do I want people to notice what I've done? Am I seeking the approval of people, or am I seeking the approval of God?

My friend, there is tremendous freedom when we can live with nothing to hide. We don't have to manipulate people. We don't have to flatter people. We don't have to use people. We simply need to love people, speak the truth, share the gospel, and seek to please God. And at the end of the day, we should desire to be able to say with Paul: “God is witness.” God knows my heart. God knows my motives. God knows why I am doing what I am doing. So today, let's ask the Lord to search our hearts and keep our motives pure. Let's speak words that are true rather than flattering. Let's serve because we want to give rather than because we want to get. And let's live every day remembering that the God who has entrusted us with the gospel is also the God who knows our hearts.

Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You again for entrusting us with the precious gospel of Jesus Christ. Search our hearts today and reveal anything in our motives that does not please You. Keep us from using flattering words simply to gain the approval of others. Guard our hearts against covetousness and the desire for money, position, recognition, or praise. Help us to serve You with pure hearts and honest motives. May we live with nothing to hide, always remembering that You know our hearts and that ultimately it is Your approval that matters. Help us to faithfully love people, speak the truth, and point others to Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen.

God bless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!