When People-Pleasing Contradicts God-Pleasing
- 17 hours ago
- 1 min read
Galatians 1:10, ESV
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul’s use of the word still in this verse insinuates that there was a time in his life when he was trying to please men.
People-pleasing.
It’s something we all struggle with to varying degrees throughout our lives.
But it’s the last sentence of the verse that really struck me—if I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Being a servant of Christ and pleasing man are sometimes directly opposed to each other.
The Greek word translated please in this passage also means approval, favor, satisfy.
There are times in our lives when God's approval of us will mean someone else’s (man’s) disapproval—times when we can't please God and people at the same time.
And God’s approval must win.
When it’s God’s approval vs. man’s approval, God’s approval must matter more—no matter what the cost.
And in time, God will vindicate the decisions we make to choose Him.