Pleasing God or Man?

    In our study about learning to love praise from God more than from man, we have come to realize that desiring praise and accolades from man to validate our efforts (good works, teaching, etc.) soon turns us into a puppet controlled by their whims and fancies: What they want to hear we speak, what they don’t want to hear we avoid. The Truth is exchanged for a lie – one that changes to suit the current situation – so that no one is offended or feels “judged.”

Note: Man’s opinions (aka notions and whims) can and will fluctuate. You can please someone one day and find that very same thing does not please them another day – seeking everyone’s approval is a downward spiral, a slippery slope that takes you far from the proper path. God’s expectation (made known through His word, His commands and instructions) is constant; we can know what will please Him and it will not change.

    Do you ever find yourself avoiding bringing God into the conversation with for example, your unbelieving husband, your wayward children/grandchildren, or maybe it’s your neighbours, coworkers, friends, or other relatives, for fear that they may turn on you? You see an opportunity and you want to advise them in God’s way but to avoid a scene you don’t speak out? I’ve been there, too. Generally, we don’t like making people feel uncomfortable and we don’t like when people don’t like us or like being around us, so we avoid ‘touchy’ subjects. It is a fear that in reality causes us to be self-serving, so that we don’t feel uncomfortable or unwanted in these situations.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 NKJV)

    When we are truly living as a bondservant of Christ – a servant who chooses to stay and serve (Deuteronomy 15:12-17) – we will live and breathe the Truth, desiring daily to increase our knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding; through reading, study, and application. We will find that when we don’t share it, it will burn inside of us (consider prophet, Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 20:7-11 ), so we will pray for opportunities and for purity of heart so that when we do speak it will be with tenderness and care (Colossians 4:5-6, Ephesians 5:15-17), and when we share God’s word we will do so with the courage and strength He provides (Ephesians 3:15-16, 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, considering also John 15:18-20). We will promote Him to the world through our words and deeds so that they, too, may come to the Light and gain hope beyond this life. We will learn to love the souls in the world because God loves them and desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4); He is longsuffering - with them and with us – that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

When we serve God, we seek to persuade men of His way.

When we serve ourselves, we seek to persuade God of our way.

    God will bless you for taking a stand for Him, for declaring His greatness, for giving Him the credit for your life and hope! Seek His blessing and give others the opportunity to gain lasting peace, don’t be content with the self-serving, temporary ‘comfort’ of unspoken words that bring only a false sense of peace.

    Are you confident in God’s way? Have you tried it His way and proven that His will is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2)? Do you wholly believe that God’s way – as found in the Bible - is the best way and the only way that leads home to Him? Don’t let the fear of upsetting people prevent you from giving loving advice from His word. Please don’t let possible embarrassment stop you from inviting someone to church services.

You can do it! So can I!!