“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe. “ Proverbs 29:25 (Good News Translation)
“ I can’t tell you the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.”
We’re called to please God. One of the indicators of pleasing God is our interactions with others. We’re called to love each other. We’re called to encourage each other. We’re called to speak the truth in love to each other. We’re called to be considerate of each other. We’re called to honest with each other. That pleases God … right?!?
During a recent meditation, I was able to see Proverbs 25:29 through a new lens. “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe. “ Another translation said that the fear of human opinion disables and alters us, but trusting in God protects you from all that.
We’re called to please God. One of the indicators of pleasing God is our interactions with other. Pleasing God also means not pleasing people.
When we focus on people pleasing more than pleasing God it literally spiritually alters and impairs us. When we allow the opinions of others to completely control us, it puts us in our own cell. It like getting in my own car, then giving someone else the driver seat, keys and pink slip.
Does it mean that we can’t benefit from wisdom of others at all?
Does it mean not being authentically kind? Of course not, but when we are so concerned with opinions that we don’t align with our gifts, talents and what we are called to do it, that’s a problem.
It is literally a snare. We’re called to please God and one of those indicators is our interaction with one another. But pleasing God also will mean not pleasing others.
Pleasing God means aligning with Divine precision,
and not being consumed with human opinion
Pleasing God means to totally rely upon the Spirit daily, and not relying upon opinions that will alter or impair what is meant for me. Sometimes our response to people pleasing might simply be:
And after your reply, you can focus on these passages that remind us not to people > God please.
“Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God's approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 5:10
“Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.” Colossians 3:23
“More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
“You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me?” John 5:44