Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
Many years ago, I read an interview with a man I was familiar with who had spent some time in prison. He and his father served as pastors of a large church. Together they had devised a scheme whereby they were taking money from the church and investing it in real estate. They had made themselves quite wealthy with this scheme. They were also ministering successfully to the souls of the people in their church and their community. When the interviewer asked how that was possible, this man explained that he and his father had learned to compartmentalize their lives. There were essentially two men living in their bodies. One was the preacher; the other was the embezzler.
It’s no secret that preachers, like everyone else, are just people. We are not perfect. We often misunderstand, and we are often misunderstood. But, so far as I know, most of us honestly want to serve the Lord and behave holy, just, and unblameable.
I think sometimes we even believe that we are all of those.
But conversations with others reveal that they do not always see us that way. Truthfully, because of the nature of the flesh, we cannot trust the witness of those who claim to have been done wrong by a preacher any more than we can trust the witness of the preacher who claims to be holy, just, and unblameable. That’s what is so impressive about this passage. This is corroboration. Here we have the testimony of two witnesses confirming the same thing. Paul’s perspective of himself is verified by the perspective of the believers in Thessalonica.
Perhaps one of the most dangerous things any human can do to themselves is believe what they think about themselves. We’re never going to make everyone happy. But we ought to have a conscience that testifies to a holy, just, and unblameable life. And there ought to be others who will freely testify the same of us.
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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