SàObviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
HàPaul cuts right to the chase and basically says that the approval of people is the least of his worries. He is concentrated on pleasing God. In fact, he says that to concentrate on pleasing people is not to be Christ’s servant. Its as if you cannot be Christ’s servant and please people that the two cannot coexist at the same time.
AàIts interesting that Paul talks about this. Since he brings it up it must mean that he is faced with this temptation and through his experience he has realized that there is no way to do both; he knows that he can’t be a servant of Christ and also try to please people. How often do I struggle with this? It is so easy for me to get caught up in pleasing people and today I am reminded that if I am focusing on pleasing people that I cannot be a servant of Christ. I am reminded that first and foremost I desire to please Jesus and not people. Sure, I want people to like me; but more I want Jesus to look at me and say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” I wonder where the Church would be today if pastors refused to please people but focused solely on pleasing Jesus in the leadership of His Church……I have a hunch we’d be a long way from where we are in the Church today.
PàLord, give me the grace today not to fall into the trap of pleasing people. Give me the confidence of knowing that if I focus on pleasing you that everything else will take care of itself. God, I desire for you to be my king and I desire only to please you. Give me the grace to never sacrifice this desire for the approval of people. Help people to know that I love them but that my allegiance is first and foremost always to you. Give me opportunities to grow into this grace.
EàMy success as a leader in Jesus’ Church rests solely in my refusal to please people and commitment to please Him.
chadpullins@connect2crossroads.com
