“We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”
–1 Thessalonians 1:4b
It’s so very easy to get caught up in the people pleasing game. Especially if you are a yesser like me. You know, the kind of person who says “yes” to just about everything. The kind never really had birthday parties growing up because she was too stressed over the possibility of hurt feelings if someone felt left out. The kind who has spent a few of her 20-somethings curled up in an anxious ball because she doesn’t have a “real job.”
Maybe that’s not your story exactly, but chances are there has been a time or two when you have longed to please people.
Every time we move I get direly caught up in pleasing people. I so want friends, want to fit in, want to be liked that I can fall into a trap. I’m not good at being anything but myself. So I don’t easily fall into a trap of forsaking my true self, or my faith in the name of finding friends and fitting in. My heart and spirit, however is easily torn to bits when I just don’t feel like I fit in…like no one will ever get me, and I’ll spend the next few years totally friendless.
I hate that my joy can be so easily sucked up by the thoughts and opinions of people. People! After all I’ve been through. After all the times I’ve seen God moved in huge ways…you’d think that I’d know better than to let my happiness hinge on something as trivial as mere mortals. I serve the God who made them, after all. But, sadly sometimes it does.
Luckily, humanity has been around for quite some time now, and the struggles we face today are not new or unique {at least, not most of them…not this one.} Paul spent lots of time evangelizing to Gentile nations. I’m sure his time wasn’t all warm welcomes and high fives. In fact, we know it wasn’t. He was tossed in jail and beaten to a pulp on more than one occasion. But he kept at it. He loved those people, believed in the truth and importance of his message, and was fueled by unrelenting faith.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:2-6 he says :
We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 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.
We are called to grow God’s kingdom in all that we do. To be good representatives of Him on Earth. To act as the body, who does the will of the Head.
We do that best when we remember to keep our eyes set on the Lord, and do not let ourselves become consumed with the pleasing people. So next time you feel like doing something to please a person, or feel crushed because you just can’t seem to please everyone…remember who we are really trying to please. People will only ever see our actions, but God knows our intentions and tests our hearts. Work to please Him. Focus on pleasing Him.
