Day 27: 1 Thessalonians 2:4

“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.”



Have you ever found yourself doing something good for the wrong reasons? How does that feel? Do you think it’s right?


Leaders often walk a fine line when it comes to motivation. Many leaders, being aware of how to please people and what it takes to lead them, will do things specifically to cultivate their own leadership. A Christian leader must never be like this.


A Christian leader does the right thing, and pleases God. This, in the end, will earn you as much respect and a larger following than will being a person whose motivation is selfish and egocentric.


Our motivations must be one of the things that separates Christian and secular leaders.


Sooner or later people will begin to question why you do things. No one is immune to this questioning, not even Paul. The Thessalonians, the Corinthians, and the Galatians (that we know of) questioned why Paul did what he did, and Paul was doing it for the right reasons. Paul was able to show these congregations whose interest he had in his heart because he was serving God.


If you are doing the right thing, saying the right thing, being the religious person, preaching the right message etc, merely to gain a following you will be found out. In fact, you already are. Paul makes very clear in this passage that it is God who tests the heart. God knows why you do the things you do, and if your followers don’t they soon will.


You’re not fooling anyone, so why try? It’s one thing to say and do all the right things, and another to mean them. As leaders we have to mean it. God demands that we do, and those we lead will demand it too.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader does the right thing with pure, God-driven motivation. They do not do the right thing merely to be seen as someone who does or because people will follow them if they do. We do the right thing because we love God and want to be like His Son, Jesus


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Proverbs 16:25


Prayer: Father, help me to have the right motivation. Help me to love You more. Help me to love me less. Search my heart, Lord, and show me where my motivation is wrong. In Christ’s name, amen.