1 Thessalonians 2:5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
People’s motives can be very hard to discern in so many areas of life. Why are they doing this? What is the reason for their actions? This isn’t like them; what made them change?
I was reading an article this morning about the insider trading that is happening in the highest levels of our government. They are required to report their financial transactions in order to bring transparency to their dealings. But some are delaying more than a year between their transactions and their reporting. Forty five days is the requirement.
So how did their own personal investments change their decision making process? Did what they know from their official work influence their investment decisions? How were the rest of us disadvantaged by their decisions?
I think of a former vice president who has profited enormously from his personal investments in “green” energy. And all they while his carbon footprint continues to increase. What motivates him to push a green agenda, his ideals or his personal wealth? It can be very hard to know someone’s motives, can’t it.
But we often don’t know our own motives fully. And motives can be complicated things, a mixture of many different factors all pulling at the same time. The ancient philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” And yet, many of us don’t every think about why we do things, what motives we exhibit.
Our text from almost 2000 years ago speaks about people wearing masks. And we thought masks were a new thing! Masks hide part of the person who wears them. They can hide the motives behind what the person is saying and doing.
In ancient Roman culture, theaters used masks to portray different characters that were part of the script. It took very little effort to change character. But more importantly, the mask allowed the person underneath to be somewhat anonymous. They were just the vessel through whom the character spoke. So one person could play many parts by just changing the mask.
Paul was addressing this church, a church that had started and continued in the face of persecution and suffering. They had seen Paul arrive, be persecuted and in the middle of that persecution, continue to share the good news of Jesus. And when they responded to the message, they experienced persecution as well.
Paul was straight forward in his dealings with them. He didn’t flatter them in order to win them to his side. He wasn’t there for the money. Paul calls them to follow his example.
Paul cared about them, and demonstrated that motive in the way he treated them. He was gentle, as a parent with a child. He wasn’t a financial burden to them, as he shared the life-giving message of Jesus. He wasn’t afraid to have them remember his actions toward them. In fact, he insists that they remember.
I have asked myself many times, why do I write this blog? I certainly don’t have many readers. I get no financial gain from it. In fact, it started as a way for me to focus more easily on my daily reading of Scripture. It is an outgrowth of my personal devotions. It was for me.
I pray that those of you who do read this will be strengthened in your faith in Jesus, that you will be encouraged and built up in your faith. And that strengthening will lead to you reaching out to more and more people with the love and truth that Jesus brought into the world and into your life. That is my motive.
The Arnold Journey 