People Pleasers (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.”
Galatians 1:10
Observations
What a challenging word from Paul! Paul contrasts the goal of pleasing people with the call of serving Christ. Here Paul speaks of himself in a letter to a community. I believe this should cause us to stop and ask these questions of ourselves personally and as a community. The first set of questions reflect how we often consider a text like this. A personal application. The second set of questions are asked less frequently. To ask what a community application might look like. We have to remind ourselves over and over again of the gospel and what God calls us to as a community: a relationship bent on serving him. Our community is also only a small part of God’s larger community. God does not call us to take care of everything. He calls us to keep our eyes focused on him.
Questions for Curiosity
- Do I personally set my goals, time, and relationships on a course to win the approval of people in my life?
- Do I pour myself out in the goal to please people? What are the dangers of doing that?
- Paul speaks of serving Christ as being in contrast with pleasing people. I think it can be helpful to think of myself with limited energy. Do I pour that energy into pleasing my boss, my colleagues, my family, my church community?
- What is the effect? Can I satisfy all those needs? Do I find myself depleted, trying to satisfy insatiable hungers?
- What happens if I slow down and ask God to show me how I am to serve him? How would he have me offer my limited resource of energy and let him determine its priorities? He is not insatiable, in fact he will lead me to rest, recharge, and let go of burdens.
- Now what happens when we consider that same set of questions for our community, a body of believers with limited resources, unable to be all things to all people?
- Is what we are doing seeking God’s approval?
- Are we prone to yield to people when their desires are strong?
- Do we look for programs that please people or relationships that shape people?
Further Reflection
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-8
