+I. It is not in vain as respects the end and object of the Gospel
itself.+--1. _Conversion._ 2. _Sanctification or edification._
3. _Condemnation._
+II. It was not in vain as respected the objects of the
apostle.+--1. _His commission was to preach the Gospel._ He did it.
2. _To gather in souls._ He did so. 3. _His reward was the
approbation of Christ and seals to his ministry._ He had both.
+III. It was not in vain as respected the Thessalonians.+--They were
turned from idolatry; their hearts glowed with new feelings; their
characters shone with new graces.--_Stewart._
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 3-6.
_Essential Elements of Success in Preaching. II. Sincerity._
The devout Richard Baxter once said: "The ministerial work must be
managed purely for God and the salvation of the people, and not for
any private ends of our own. This is our sincerity in it. A wrong end
makes all the work bad from us, however good in itself." In order to
success, it is necessary not only to display a fearless courage, but
also a spirit of unmistakable ingenuousness and sincerity. As the
mountain tarn reflects the clear, chaste light of the stars as they
kindle in the heavens, so the preacher reflects in his outward
conduct the pure and lofty motives by which he is animated and
sustained. We observe, in connection with the preaching of the Gospel
at Thessalonica, sincerity in motive, in speech, in aim.
+I. Sincerity in motive.+--"For our exhortation was not of deceit,
nor of uncleanness, nor in guile" (ver. 3). The apostle disclaims the
harbouring of evil intentions in relation to God, himself, and others.
1. _In relation to God._--"Not of deceit"--not in error. Having
received the truth from God and about God, he transmits it in all its
integrity, without error or imposture.
2. _In relation to himself._--"Nor of uncleanness." Pure in his own
affection and purpose, he preached a Gospel that was pure in itself,
in its tendency, and in its experienced results.
3. _In relation to others._--"Not in guile." He sought not to
propagate the Gospel by any fraudulent wiles or false
representations. He descended not to hypocrisy to catch men.
"Hypocrites," says St. Bernard, "desire to seem not to be good; not
to seem, but to be evil: they care not to follow or practise virtue,
but to colour vice by putting upon it the painted complexion of
virtue." The life of the man whose motives are thus sincere will be
transparent as the light. A certain king of Castile, who had been
only too familiar with the duplicity of mankind, once somewhat
arrogantly said, "When God made man He left one capital defect: He
ought to have set a window in his breast." The sincere man opens a
window in his own breast by the whole tenor of His words and actions,
so that his innermost thoughts are apparent.
+II. Sincerity in speech.+--1. _The preacher speaks under a solemn
sense of responsibility._ "But as we were allowed of God to be put in
trust with the gospel, even so we speak" (ver. 4). To their charge,
as men tested and approved of God, was committed the precious
treasure of the Gospel; and keenly conscious of the unutterable
riches with which they were entrusted, they were deeply solicitous to
distribute the same in all faithfulness and sincerity. Every gift we
receive from Heaven has its corresponding responsibility.
2. _The preacher seeks chiefly the Divine approval._--"Not as
pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts" (ver. 4). There is
much in the Gospel distasteful to the natural man--its humiliating
exposure of our depravity and helplessness, its holiness, its
mysteries, the unbending severity of its law, and the absolute
character of its claims. The temptation is sometimes great to temper
and modify the truth to carnal prejudice, and sacrifice faithfulness
to popularity. But the apostles risked everything so that they
secured the Divine approval. "As of sincerity, as of God, in the
sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Cor. ii. 17).
3. _The preacher must practise neither adulation nor
deception._--"For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye
know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness" (ver. 5).
"Flattery," says Plutarch, "has been the ruin of many states." But
alas! who can tell the souls it has for ever undone? Truth is too
sedate and solid to indulge in meaningless flattery. It is only the
vain and self-conceited who can be deceived by adulation.
+III. Sincerity in aim.+--"Nor of men sought we glory, neither of
you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome as the
apostles of Christ" (ver. 6). The sincere aim of the apostles was
seen:--
1. _In the generous suppression of the authority with which they were
invested._--"When we might have been burdensome as the apostles of
Christ." Whether we understand this authority as exercised in
foregoing for the time being their legitimate claim of maintenance by
the Church, or as restraining the exhibition of the dignity and power
of their apostleship--which latter view is generally admitted to be
the true exegesis--it was equally honourable to the pure and
disinterested character of their highest aim.
2. _In the absence of all selfish ambition._--"Nor of men sought we
glory." They could conscientiously aver, "We seek not yours, but
you." "I love a serious preacher," says Fénélon, "who speaks for my
sake and not for his own; who seeks my salvation and not his own
glory." It is said of one of the ancient fathers that he wept at the
applause frequently given to his discourses. "Would to God," said he,
"they had rather gone away silent and thoughtful!" It is a sorry and
painfully disappointing end to preach for mere ephemeral human
praise. Such a man may sink into the grave with the touching lament
of Grotius, "Alas! I have lost my life in doing nothing with great
labour!"--though in his case it was an unduly despondent estimate of
his life-work. When Christ is to be exalted, the preacher must be
willing to be unnoticed.
+Lessons.+--1. _Sincerity in proclaiming the truth can be acquired
only by personal experience of its power._ 2. _Sincerity is deepened
by a conscious Divine commission._ 3. _Sincerity is unmistakably
evidenced in word and deed._ 4. _Sincerity is satisfied only in
aiming at the highest results in preaching._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._