“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV).
Paul reminded the Thessalonian believers that his ministry among them was marked by sincerity and divine approval, not human ambition. Having been “approved by God,” he saw himself as a steward of the gospel—a sacred trust, not a personal possession. The word “approved” comes from a term meaning “tested and found genuine.” God had examined Paul’s heart and commissioned him to proclaim Christ faithfully. In contrast to the wandering orators of the ancient world who sought applause and financial gain, Paul’s motive was to please God alone. The One who “tests our hearts” continually evaluates both the message and the messenger. This verse reveals the divine pattern for ministry: God calls, God entrusts, and God examines. The approval that matters most is not from people but from the Lord who searches the heart.
We live in a culture driven by approval—measured in likes, emojis, and followers. Yet as followers of Jesus, we are called to a higher audience: the audience of One. God has entrusted us with His gospel, not to keep it hidden but to speak it and live it out with integrity. Like Paul, we must check our motives, remembering that God tests not just our words but our hearts. When we seek His pleasure above man’s, our witness gains authenticity and power. Whether we preach, teach, serve, or simply share Christ in daily conversations, our aim must be faithfulness, not fame. Let us live in such a way that our speech and conduct say, “We are stewards of the gospel, seeking to please God who has called us.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for approving us in Christ and entrusting us with Your gospel. Forgive us when we seek the praise of people more than Your pleasure. Test our hearts and purify our motives, that we might speak and live Your truth with sincerity and courage. Help us to live for Your approval alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.