Don't be a People Pleaser!

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Gal 1:10)
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What a timely word for the Christian in these days.

This verse is a profound statement of Paul’s at the beginning of his letter to the Galatians. What was at stake was the pure Gospel (faith in Jesus) threatened by the false Gospel of the circumcision party (faith + circumcision). He, like Peter had been (Gal 2:11), was no doubt tempted to accommodate, tempted to seek to please these powerful forces, rather than stand for God, Christ and the truth of the Gospel. What was at stake was not only the spiritual wellbeing of the Galatians, but the assurance of his own allegiance to Christ. Essentially he says, “If your desire is to be a people pleaser, if you persevere in this, you aren’t, cannot be a Christian”— I would NOT be a servant of Christ. Why, because Christ is Lord of the Christian, He is the object of their affections, the sum of all their gain, the One we desire to please, the One who demands our complete allegiance, the One who directs our steps.

There are many other Bible verses that pick up on this:

• His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
      nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
      in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Ps 147:10–11)
• The fear of man lays a snare,
      but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. (Pr 29:25)
• for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (Jn 12:43)
• Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (Col 3:23)
• but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. (1 Thes 2:4)

Meditate well on the truth of these verses. We cannot seek to please God and man. It is an impossible and incompatible goal.

• Maybe we’re pressured to not publicize our love of God or declare our faith in Jesus, to go with the godless flow?
• Maybe we’re tempted to be less exclusive in our presentation of the Gospel, or not speak of the reality of hell?
• Maybe we’re worried what a friend or family member might say, think or do if they discovered we believed the Biblical truth about gender and sexuality?
• Maybe we’re drawn to buy something flashy rather than embrace modesty or generosity?
• Maybe peer pressure is enticing us to belittle someone on the playground rather than love them and face ridicule or exclusion.

Whatever it is, in all of these things we could certainly win the favour of man, but in so doing we would not gain the favour of God, who’s opinion is far greater (compare pleasing a chimney sweep or the Queen to give some perspective).

The pressure to conform is great (Ro 12:2). The warning of its cost is strong. Let us not cease to seek to please God over and above people.

PRAYER: Lord, I’m too often concern with what others think. Forgive me for being a people pleaser and help me to live for Jesus today and every day. In His name, Amen.