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consequence. It is easy for the religious flesh to apparently `do all to the glory of God'.
It is certainly easy for the weakling in faith to `give none offence' or to be `all things to
all men', but to so act that the glory of God is not compromised while we give none
offence, or that we do not offend either Jew or Greek while we yield not for an hour for
the glory of God, demands something more than the most religious of flesh can ever
attain. We shall profit much if we can appreciate and exemplify the underlying principle
of both I Thess. 2: 4 and I Thess. 2: 15. The theme `pleasing God' is one that could
well occupy our fullest attention for many a page, but we have four more contrasted
themes to consider, and so we pass on to:
(2) Not burdensome but gentle (2: 5-7).
The full passage reads as follows:
"For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of
covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of
others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were
gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children" (2: 5-7).
When the Apostle claimed that he pleased God and not man, he added that this God he
pleased `trieth our hearts'. Now when he repudiates `flattery' he adds `as ye know'; and
`covetousness', `God is witness'. It is important that we observe the correct dividing line
in this passage, otherwise, if we read straight on without pause, we can make it appear
that `flattery' and `covetousness' were a legitimate part of an apostle's rights, which
would be both unscriptural and immoral. The passage is divided as follows:
(a) Not flattery. You know.
\
Not covetousness. God is witness
}
What they were not.
Not glory of you or others.
/
(b) When we might have burdensome
\
What they might have been.
as apostles of Christ.
/
(c) But were gentle among you
\
What they were.
as a nurse.
/
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul had said:
"I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was
present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to
me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept
myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself" (II Cor. 11: 8, 9).
"Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to
you; . . . . . for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the
children. And I will gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I
love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, (to quote
the opinion of some evil minded and little-souled person) being crafty, I caught you with
guile" (II Cor. 12: 14-16).
This however was more than the Apostle could tolerate, so immediately after he had
apparently resigned himself to misunderstanding and false implication, he burst forth: