You know we never used flattery

You know we never used flattery. . . (1 Thessalonians 2:5)

Is this how we proclaim the gospel, without flattery? Or do we proclaim a gospel that is flattering to our flesh? Can we say that we are those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel? Can it be truly said that we are not looking for praise from people?

Could it be that we are so blind to our flesh and so insensitive to the Spirit that we attempt to do God's work in human ways totally unaware? I fear that we have come to such a place in the history of the church precisely because of our failure to love God supremely.