Paul was also under attack in Thessalonica. Some accused him of using flattery and dishonesty to make money from the Christians. The first part of the letter, to which I referred above, is Paul’s reminder that when he was in Thessalonica he was honest and above board, that his speech was marked by authenticity and accompanied by the power of God. In fact, Paul reminds the church that he was gentle like a mother caring for her little children and encouraging like a father urging his children on. Those are powerful portraits of a pastor. But beneath the metaphors lies an even more potent truth. Paul went to great pains to let the Thessalonian Christians know that, though his love for them was deep and sacrificial, he took his cues from God, not them. His motive was to please God, and his end was to win praise from God (l Thess. 2:4).