1 Thessalonians 2:6

Nor did we seek glory from men, neither from you nor from others, though we could have stood on our authority as apostles of Christ.

Background Information

The trap of seeking glory from men

Reading: 1Thessalonians 2:5-6

5 For neither were we found at any time with flattering speech, even as you know, nor with a pretext for covetousness; God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, neither from you nor from others, though we could have stood on our authority as apostles of Christ.

To seek glory of men is a real temptation to every Christian worker.
Many have been devoured and spoiled by this matter. Apparently seeking glory from men is not as evil as covetousness. However, it is more subtle.
The fall of the archangel was due to the seeking of glory. He became God's adversary because of his glory-seeking. Even though he was a leading angel with a very high position, he was still seeking glory. That was the cause of his fall.
 
According to the New Testament, anyone who seeks glory of men is a follower of satan. The seeking of glory is a trap spread by satan to snare Christian workers. Therefore, it is very important that all Christian workers learn to avoid the snare of glory-seeking. However, not many have escaped this trap.
 
How much we shall be used by the Lord and how long our usefulness will last depends on whether we seek glory of men. If we seek glory, our usefulness in the hand of the Lord is finished. The seeking of glory for the self always kills one's usefulness. Therefore, may we all, especially the young, be warned never to seek glory in the Lord's work.
 
Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I confesss that I am tempted to seek self-glory in my service to You and to others. I desire to be useful in ministering and serving others, but do save me from Satan’s snare of seeking glory from men. Amen. 

Not Standing on Their Dignity

...Yet we did not use this right, but we bear all things that we may not cause any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

1Th.1:6 [above] indicates clearly that the apostles did not stand on their dignity as apostles of Christ. They did not assume any standing or dignity. They had to forget that they were apostles and serve God's people as slaves. They were not to remind others of the fact that they were apostles of Christ. Instead, they were to keep in mind that they were brothers serving believers.
 
Those who are believers and also those who are not believers may consider the leading ones, the elders, or the apostles as dignitaries. However, in the local churches there are no dignitaries. Instead of being dignitaries, we are slaves serving one another.
 
We should learn of Paul never to stand on our dignity or assert authority. A sister whose husband is an elder should not assume dignity because she is the wife of an elder. An elder's wife is not the "First Lady." She is simply a little sister serving the church.
Furthermore, her husband is not a dignitary; he is a slave. As an elder, he has been appointed to serve the church as a slave. We all should have this attitude.
 
Paul did not stand on his dignity as an apostle in order to claim something for himself. By refusing to stand on his dignity or assert authority Paul is a good pattern for us all. If we follow this pattern, we shall kill a deadly disease germ in the Body of Christ, the germ of assuming a position.
 
A Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the good pattern You reveal through Paul. Save me from assuming any position among God's people or expecting to be recognized in a special way. Work in me until I am one who simply serves others. Amen. 

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