October 17, 2008
Who
to please?
Am
I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please
men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 NIV
There are two good lessons here so I’ll keep them short.
Firstly,
you can’t please everybody. Trying to be a people-pleaser is a lesson in
futility and frustration. Trying to please people will compromise your position
in Christ.
The
second knowing that, whenever you are faced with a decision, please God. Also
remember pleasing people will eventually cause offenses and problems, and may
even lead to extreme attacks on you once the person knows they can’t
manipulate, intimidate or control you.
Remember that Christians in general and ministers of the Word in specific are not perfect. We are just like everyone else, we make mistakes, loose our temper, do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason and in general work through our lives imperfectly just like you.
My point? Don’t look at your Bible teacher, preacher, pastor or any other Christian to be the perfect example of Christianity. Some are very Christ like, others are not at all Christ like and we’re all human.
"Why
do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God
alone. Luke 18:19 NIV
If someone in authority in the church has hurt you or if you turned away from God because of something you saw a Christian do, you missed the boat. Look to Jesus not to Christians for your example.
If there is something we are doing right, by all means emulate it. When we fall, pray for us and lift us up. Just don’t ever confuse us with being God.
In my teaching, my writing and my life, Jesus and His Word trump me in every case. Glean what you can from my teachings but put your faith in Jesus alone.
Know
that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith
in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will
be justified. Galatians 2:16 NIV
Until
next time, if you’ve confused another Christian with God, turn to the real
source of power, God.
If
you hold baggage against God or the church because of things others have done,
take it to God and forgive them.
Don’t
be separated from the joy and fullness of God, or an eternal relationship with
Him because of something a person did.
Also
when in doubt don’t please me please God!
I’ll understand!
Be
blessed today.
Darrel Mason