PEOPLE PLEASING... Sunday

Devotional for 9/14/14

The phrase "people pleasing" has a very negative connotation.  It conjures up pictures of someone doing things just to make other people happy, at their own expense.  People pleasers don't do what is best for them, but what is pleasing for others.  Often they have a poor sense of their own value and find their worth in other people's love and acceptance.  If they don't please others, they feel rejected or guilty, or as if they have failed and are worth less.  Other people often take advantage of their good deeds, asking them to do more and more, or allowing them to do everything for them.  Eventually the people pleaser becomes exhausted in the impossible cycle of doing for others above all.  This type of people pleasing is not healthy, nor does it glorify God.

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 (NIV)

There is another type of "people pleasing" however.  It isn't the one we hear about in today's culture as described above.  Rather, it is glorifying God by not offending as we witness about the life giving Gospel that Jesus died and rose again so that all might have eternal life.  It is about not harming another person's belief in God if their faith is too immature for them to fully understand something.  It is about not tripping someone up by putting stumbling blocks in their path to becoming better Christians, or by putting road blocks up that keep them away from the church. It is about not causing anyone's conscience to be offended by our activity if they believe it is unholy, even though we may know it is not.  It is not seeking our own good but the good of others in terms of their salvation.  This type of "pleasing others" is healthy and God-pleasing!

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — even as I try to please everyone in every way.  For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.  I Corinthians 10:31-33 (NIV)  

Dear Lord in heaven, help me to be a healthy people pleaser, one that leads others to you.  Forgive me when I place unnecessary burdens on those weak in faith that may discourage them or turn them away from you.  Help me to be your servant and to bring you glory in all that I do.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

written by Jan Andersen