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1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 – Be A Barnabas Not A Flatterer – Praying God’s Way to A Healthy, Growing, Community
TEXT: “For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives — God is our witness — and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others.” (CSB’17 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6)
DEVOTIONAL: “Did you check my last post? I did, wow! No doubt, you are right there with me in feeling so sad in how I needed I needed to be a rod correction! I guess that’s why God put me here. All glory to God! And I thank God we are not like them. That you ‘liked’ it reveals your high sensibility for the deep things of God. Keep up the good work!”
Ironically, FLATtery puffs up instead of deflating egos. Building up is not puffing up. Ironically, flattering others is often flattering ourself. Even comparing others negatively to ourself can lead to self-flattery, as witnessed by Jesus in the parable of the Pharisee and Tax-collector (Luke 18). As a spiritual community have we gone from self-flagellation to self-flattery; all, “humbly’, in the name of God? May we be greedy for God and not for glory!
There is a fine line between encouraging others, bragging on them, and flattery. Identical words, compliments, and actions can be truthful yet twisted, edifying yet self-serving. God may even be invoked which is frightening. Fooling one another, even our ourselves, is easy. Fooling God is impossible. Motives separate selfishness from selflessness in being a true or false Barnabas. Be a Barnabas, for their benefit and for the glory of God.
PRAYER: God, you are my witness as one who knows me better than I know even myself. Are my motives honest and open? Or, are my words and actions seeking fame and glory, here in my small circle of influence? May I be a Barnabas but not a flatterer; and not for self-glory, nor greedy for a returned compliment. May I build up, but not puff up. To Jesus as my glory, motive, and witness, amen.
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