“…just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4¹
What do we do to please other people?
Many folks wear masks. They walk into church or a crowd or the workplace smiling and glad-handing their friends or co-workers. When someone asks how they’re doing, their pat answer is, “Fine.” But they’re not fine. They’re undergoing satanic attacks at home, at work, and with extended family.
Some of us go out of our way to please others instead of God. We do something special for someone who doesn’t even acknowledge our effort. Or we sacrifice our time and money to help out on a project and get no recognition for our hard work. Then we feel bad about it because others won’t recognize our efforts to please them.
Some folks live at church. They’re on 17 committees, teach three classes, volunteer in the nursery and go unfulfilled. Why? Because we’re trying so hard to please man rather than God. All that work you do that you think serves God doesn’t. It just wears you out. We serve so hard to gain God’s acceptance and we already have it.
When we try to please other people we think life will be better. We want other people to be pleased with us so they’ll accept us and like us. To many folks, they consider pleasing others as a reward.
But pleasing other people doesn’t improve our lives. In fact if we don’t choose to please God first instead of pleasing other people, we lose. Hebrews 11:6 says, “…He (God) is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” If we live to please man we will fail; but if we live to please God we will live an obedient, effective life.
Living in obedience to His word is an outward sign of an inward commitment. Living in obedience energizes us to discover the purpose for our lives that God holds. Obedience is a daily, moment-by-moment, choice-by-choice commitment of our hearts. Because as soon as we make a commitment to live in obedience to God, Satan comes along side us and says, “Oh, yeah. why don’t you try this?” Every obedient choice bumps up against a temptation or a sin the devil will offer up.
One way to be effective is to look past our obstacles and think of them as opportunities. Paul and Timothy had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi. But they, “had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.” v.2:2.
To be effective in our obedience we must also live with a purity of purpose. In verse 2:3 Paul says, “our exhortation (what we are telling you about the Gospel) does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit.” In other words, when they taught they were being obedient to what God had revealed to them as Truth.
¹A message from Senior Pastor, Gearl Spicer, One Heart Church in Norcross, Georgia was the inspiration for this blog.
For His Glory 
Great post today! It is far to easy to want to please others when all that matters is that we please God. Your writing is great encouragement for us all.
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Thank you for your encouragement and kind words. When I write about people pleasing, unfortunately I’m writing from too much past experience. Fortunately God delivered me from that.
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Thank you so much for your encouragement. I’m pleased that you were touched by what God said through this particular blog. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll come back to read more soon.
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These are great words that all believers need to take to heart, Steven. Jesus told all of us who are heavy-laden to come unto Him for rest. He then said His burden was light. While sometimes everyone is called to go the extra mile, the reality is that serving Jesus should be a joy, not a burden. If we feel burdened in our service, we need to go back to our Rest and regroup. As you say, we serve our Lord, not men. It is Him we seek to please. Amen for a great post, brother.
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Thank you. I especially need to hear them again and again because I was a people pleaser on steroids for years. Especially toward the women in my life. Man I can’t count the heartaches that caused me and others. Thank you for your encouraging words.
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You are so right! Being busy does not mean being righteous. When I go out in public, I ask God to use me to bring a smile to someon’s face – He answers in the postivie every time. It is too bad that some folks get so busy going and doing and going and doing, that they don’t take a deep breath and realize that God will use them, and He will be pleased, if the heart is in the right place. This is a great post, Steven.
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Thank you, Susan,
As I said before I’m writing this one from experience, unfortunately. I used to be a great people pleaser. I even thought God was pleased with me when I was pleasing others. In my twisted theology I figured I thought pleasing others was making me a “good” Christian. It was years before i learned there are no “good” Christians, but there are born again believers who can surrender their lives to God and allow Him to be “good” in us and through us. thanks again for your kind words and encouragement.
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