Galatians 1.10 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. – St. Paul
You know, the part of the people pleaser is futile, for
he can’t please people. Yet he tries because he sees people-pleasing as
something of value. He wants to remain neutral in all things so as not to make
waves but by doing so, the waves rage all around him. Sadly, many people
attempt to be people-pleasers for they think, if we could all just get along, life would be better… We can do it!
Can’t say that I blame the people-pleaser; after all, I’d
like it if we could all just get along. When I think of the conflicts around
the world and the carnage of human life in the process, yes, I wish we could
all just get along. But we can’t and, more, we won’t. But we insist on pleasing
people.
I think a people-pleaser wants everyone to get along and wants everyone to like him.
People-pleasing isn’t as much about people as it is about self; and being
accepted, and liked. Can you blame him? He just wants to be all things to all
people all of the time – isn’t that noble? The people-pleaser exalts himself to
the place of being the example for the rest of us – if only we all could be
just like him. Then, our mission, like his, would be to please everyone else.
But what happens when his brand of people-pleasing
differs from mine? Then what? Well then we’ll have that group over there led by
their people-pleaser, and my group over here being led by me. And provided we
don’t spend too much time around each other, everyone will be pleased with
their people- pleasers.
And then we’ll build colleges for teaching “People
Pleasing”. And we’ll write books. And we’ll have an appointed time each week where
we gather in our special people-pleasing buildings, and sing songs, and hear testimonies,
and enjoy rousing speeches on the merits of pleasing
people. And we’ll have kids groups, and women’s societies, and things for
the men to do. And we’ll all please each other and live blissful lives of being
blissfully pleased.
And we won’t need God. Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try. No hell below us;
above only sky. Imagine all the people, living for the day… * We’ll have
out-pleased God.
Paul said people-pleasing
is what separates us from service to Christ. If Christ is Who He is and has
done what He has done, then there is an enormous need for Christ, because then
and only then, do we live for others, empowered and helped by Him to help them.
Many want people pleasing because they don’t need or want Christ – thanks Jesus, we got it.
Only as we each focus on, and move toward Jesus Christ,
will we be drawn closer together. We won’t be focused on anything but Him and
His purposes for each of us, which by the way, includes loving each others out
of respect and love for Him… Christ is pleased
and we all are happy. Hmmm…
Father, may I live wholly,
solely holy for You. May I keep my eyes on Your eternal Kingdom and love You
with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. And may I love others as myself
regardless of whether (or not) they measure up to being loved. Your will and
way is perfect and calls for ruthless humility in my daily walk. I cannot please others, I can only love them
as You lead me to love You… Amen
*Credit to whom credit is due: John Lennon, 1971
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