1 Thessalonians 2

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” (v. 4)

We too, my friends, are “put in trust of the Gospel.” This is a great privilege indeed. Even the angels in Heaven would rejoice at the privilege bestowed upon us. If we only knew the gravity of being entrusted with such a precious thing, we would be much more careful to tend to it, and with much more diligence. This, according to scripture, was allowed us by God; just that endorsement alone ought to be more precious than anything we could imagine. As Paul was inspired to say, “even so we speak…”, and this ought to be our testimony too, but not as man speaks, but as God would have us to do. He has put His trust in us after we have put our trust in Him, and we cannot, rather should not, let down in the matter of witnessing for Him any more than He could let us down for trusting Him for salvation. But our message is not our own; it is not for our glory or praise, but for the glory of God. That is what the Gospel produces, glory to the Father, whether it is in the salvation of a soul, or the repentance of the redeemed. His Word does not return unto Him void (Isa. 55:11), but accomplishes the purpose which He has sent it out to do. We forget the power of the Gospel message, and the glory it brings to the Lord.

What a privilege to be the “called” of the Lord. Those men who are called to preach are of a special class of people. We are all precious to the Lord, of course, but His “preacher boys” seem to have a more special place with Him, and with it, more responsibility to Him. Although all of us could enter into the “we” in the beginning of this verse, it also could apply to the “we” of apostleship and preachers, and in a greater way, perhaps. Either way, it is our responsibility, each one of us to be entrusted with the Gospel and to do that which the Lord expects us to do with it. We need not please men in the publishing of it, but if it pleases men that is fine too, it is an extra bonus. When the Truth of the Gospel goes forth, it does please the lord and some men, and many of us men are glad to hear it, knowing the power it has had in our lives.