Pleasing People or God?

“I was not appointed by … any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself […] I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”—Galatians 1:1, 10 NLT

Some must have questioned the content of Paul’s ministry and his authority. This becomes clear when we realize he began his letter to the Galatians by stressing he was not appointed by any person or speaking on behalf of any group. His authority was from Jesus Himself.

He made it clear that he was “Christ’s servant.” This gave him confidence and clarity. He was not biased by popular opinions and did not allow the standards and beliefs of the world to influence his message. His goal was to serve Jesus and please God.

Many Christians fail to have this kind of focus. They allow themselves to be distracted because they try to be people pleasers.

Think about your life. Is your primary goal to please God or other people? The Bible urges us to be sure that God is pleased with our choices. Focus on Him, regardless of what others think. Remember that in every situation, we are His servants, called by Him. We need to trust God and get our direction from Him.

This attitude will give you confidence and freedom. Make Him your source and guide. Remember that you get everything from Him. Look to God as your judge and defender. He is your King, Lord, and Master. If you focus on the world, you will discover that standards change. But God never changes. His Word is always true.

Reflection Question: Do you have enough confidence in Christ to follow His calling?