For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
(1 Thessalonians 2:3-6, NASB)
God has called each of us to serve Him. We’ve all been given spiritual gifts, and the number one purpose of our using those gifts is to glorify Him. You may have been called to teach or preach (see Eph. 4:11). Or you may be a generous giver or have a heart to show mercy (see Rom. 12:8). You might love to help others or perhaps you’re a gifted administrator (see 1 Cor. 12:28).
No matter our gifts, using them should never shine the light on us. None of us should “think of himself more highly than he ought …” (Rom. 12:3). We should never “seek glory from men”; rather, everything we do should be “pleasing … God who examines our hearts.”
When you use a gift the Lord has given you, are you so focused on pleasing God that it doesn’t matter what others might say? Would you preach or teach even if no one ever told you that your words had encouraged or convicted them? Would you give generously to your church if that giving was never acknowledged—even by the IRS? Would you be merciful to those less fortunate, never hearing a “thank you”?
If you can say, “Yes, I’d serve anyway even if I never, ever received any human kudos,” then you’re serving for the right reasons. You’re using your gifts as God intended. But if you sense that sometimes you seek a bit of glory for yourself, then ask God to help you examine your motives.
And serve “not as pleasing man, but [as pleasing] God …”
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