By baring his heart to the Thessalonians as he does in this passage, the apostle Paul helps us to understand the nature of true ministry. True ministry is motivated by a selfless love for Christ’s sheep and is committed to preparing them for the day of Christ. It is not about building a huge church, making yourself popular, becoming rich, or making your people healthy and wealthy. The true minister of Christ looks forward to that day when he will appear with his people at the coming of Christ. He prays and works for them to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13).

It is tragic but true that many who profess to be great servants of God are complete strangers to the aims and activities which occupied the apostle Paul throughout his ministry. Many of these false servants of God claim to be empowered by God and use some ideas from Scripture (e.g., divine guidance, prophecy, spiritual gifts) to make their message sound genuine. Furthermore, they offer people things that they are looking for (knowledge of the future, wealth, success, healing). This makes their claims attractive and gives them an air of spirituality and credibility. But when their ministry is evaluated against Paul’s example here in 1 Thessalonians, it is found to be severely lacking. Where is the deep affection and personal involvement? Where is the personal relationship? Where is the preoccupation with the coming of Christ? Where is the tireless labour to present people blameless and holy before God?

And while false teachers will be held accountable for leading people astray (Matthew 18:7–9), God’s people are also called upon to beware of false prophets and avoid them (Matthew 7:15–20). We must not be taken in just because a would-be prophet uses a few words and phrases from Scripture. God can indeed perform miracles, and he does protect his people and supply their needs; but when covetousness and fame are elevated above holiness, when the power of dreams and human prophecies are favoured over the Word of God, when Christ and the gospel are eclipsed by prophetic services and miracle lotions, then we may judge the prophet by his fruits and reject him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.