“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1 (ESV)
There are three occasions recorded in the New Testament when God the Father audibly spoke from heaven; at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:13–17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22), the Transfiguration (Matt. 1 7:1-5; Mark 9:1-7; Luke 9:35), and following Jesus’ address after the triumphant entrance into Jerusalem (John12:28). It was during the first two of these three occasions God the Father said He was pleased with His Son.
“What higher approval could a person enjoy than to know that what he or she has done is pleasing to God? Every Christian should have a passion to please God. We are to delight in honoring Him. It should be our greatest desire to please our Redeemer,” says Dr. R. C. Sproul.
In today’s text, the word please (ἀρέσκειν; areskein) is a present active infinitive verb. Pleasing God is to be a present, active and never-ending activity by believers in Christ. To please means to cause someone to be happy, or to be glad, with something or someone. To please God means to cause God to be happy or glad with us.
Consider this. How often do we pray and ask God to make us happy by giving us something we need or want? Rather, believers in Christ should consider how we can make God happy.
The Apostle Paul, Silas and Timothy asked and urged the Thessalonian believers not only to continue to live in a way pleasing to God, but to do so more and more. This means to a greater degree or increasingly. In other words, the Christian life is not about maintaining your faith in Christ, but rather to grow in your faith in Christ.
In his second epistle, the Apostle Peter wrote, “17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17–18 (ESV)
“Paul is dealing with the Thessalonian believers “as a nurse cherishes (and as a father admonishes) her (his) own children” (2:7, 11). The apostle (supported by his companions, of course) requests (the asking is friendly and polite), and admonishes or urges (2:11; 3:2, 7) “in the Lord Jesus” (see on 1:1)—that is, by virtue of union with the Lord whom he represents and whose spirit inspires him—that they will overflow or excel or abound (περισσεύω see on 3:12) more and more in the business of conducting themselves properly, thus pleasing God,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“It is evident that what he desires so ardently is that the Thessalonians, in keeping God’s law, shall be prompted by gratitude for their deliverance. With wonderful tact he injects the parenthetical clause: “as in fact you are conducting yourselves.” What the apostle really desires, therefore, is that the branches that bear fruit shall bear more fruit (John 15:2). That was necessary not only in view of the immaturity of these recent converts from paganism and of “the deficiencies of faith” which had to be supplied in their particular case (3:10), but also in view of the more general consideration, namely, that the believer never attains to complete spiritual perfection in this life.”
Rather than seeking for God to make us happy today, let us all resolve, in whatever circumstances we face, to make God happy by living a godly and holy life (I Peter 1:13-16). May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
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