Please God Or People?
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. -- Galatians 1:10
Who are you trying to please? Are you trying to please your spouse? Your children? Your boss? Your friends?
Who should you please? God.
Is it easy? No. Most of us prefer to not have all that drama that comes when people are unhappy with us. It’s just easier to go along than to stand our ground. Sometimes that can be a good thing. Except when your actions aren’t pleasing to God.
Have you ever used your spouse as an excuse to not go to church? Have you ever used your spouse as an excuse to not take your children to church? Obviously, church attendance doesn’t turn someone into a Christian. But being surrounded by people who love Jesus does impact on our lives. It helps us learn and allows us to worship with others.
When you let your spouse keep you from church, what are you saying to God? Are you telling God that your spouse, and your spouse’s opinion are more important than God?
Have you ever been embarrassed to pray before a meal at a restaurant? Why? Are you grateful to God for providing you with food? Then why are you hiding that gratitude? If you’re with people who aren’t believers, it’s still okay to pray silently. I’ve done it many times. If someone scoffs, that’s on them. You answer to God.
We also answer to God when it comes to where you go and what you do. Have you ever been invited to a club or a movie or a party or anything that you know deep inside is the wrong place to be? That’s the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Do you heed His voice? Or do you silently participate because it’s easier than the comments and laughter that might come if you bow out?
Each and every day we have choices to make. Some seem smaller than others but when we allow ourselves to start a slide, that slide has a way of escalating into something we never intended.
Paul said it to eloquently. If we’re trying to please people, we really can’t be servants of God. The choice is yours.
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