People Pleasing Is Idolatry

In Galatians 1:10 I read, “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.” (NLT)

In life, I have to please only one person: my Creator. I only have to please the Lord, the one who made me and has a purpose for my life. That simplifies life enormously!

Jesus said, “I don’t try to please myself, but I try to please the One who sent me” (John 5:30 NCV). He’s saying, in effect, “I’m living for an audience of one.”

“People pleasing” is a form of idolatry. The first commandment in the Ten Commandments says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3 NIV).

Anything I put before God becomes a god. Anything that becomes number one in my life that isn’t God becomes my god.

The second commandment is, “You must not make for yourself an idol” (Exodus 20:4 NLT). Anything that replaces God in my life is an idol. Success, money and even a relationship can become an idol, If it is more important than God.

A “people pleaser” allows others' opinions to take first place in their lives. Those opinions become a god because they matter more than God’s opinion. I don’t tell people I’m a Christian because they might think less of me. I don’t want them to know I go to church because they may not like me. At that point, I have another god in your life. I have made an idol of people pleasing.

Paul says in Galatians 1:10, “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” (NLT).

Almost everyone wants to be liked. It’s tempting to want to please others. But don’t do it at the expense of pleasing God. As a servant of Christ, I have an audience of one. I need to only please God.

In summary, I shouldn’t try to win the approval of others. My goal should be to please God. If pleasing people is my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. I have to please only one person: my Creator, the one who made me and has a purpose for my life. “People pleasing” is a form of idolatry. The first commandment in the Ten Commandments says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” So anything I put before God becomes a god. Anything that becomes number one in my life that isn’t God becomes my god. The second commandment is, “You must not make for yourself an idol.” Anything that replaces God in my life is an idol. Success, money and even a relationship can become an idol, If I let it be more important than God. A “people pleaser” allows others' opinions to take first place in their lives. Those opinions become a god because they matter more than God’s opinion. Everyone wants to be liked. It’s tempting to want to please others. But I shouldn’t do it at the expense of pleasing God. As a servant of Christ, I have an audience of one. I need to only please God.

So, I shouldn't spend my life trying to please everyone. Paul had to speak harshly to the Christians in Galatia because they were in serious danger. He did not apologize for his straightforward words, knowing that he could not serve Christ faithfully if he allowed the Galatian Christians to remain on the wrong track. I need to consider whose approval I am seeking. Is it others’ or God's?  

Father, I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. I want to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. Father, I pray for the courage to seek God's approval above anyone else's. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my preparation for my new future job, finishing well in my old one, and for leading a small group. I ask these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

When I Make Idols, I’ll End Up Like Them

In review of Psalm 115:8 it says, “Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them (GW).

Today’s verse comes from Psalm 115:1-18. The psalmist reminds me that God is alive. He is thinking and caring for me, as such I should put him first in my life.

The psalmist reminds me that it is not about me, but to God’s name, should all the glory be given for his unfailing love and faithfulness. We make idols for ourselves, however they really can’t do anything for us. And those who make idols end up just like them, as are all who trust in them. Instead of idols, I am to trust in the Lord, for he is my helper and my shield. The Lord will bless me when I take him seriously.

I’m also reminded that too often ask God to glorify his name with mine. I may pray for help to do a good job so that my work will be noticed. Or I might ask that a presentation go well so I will get the applause for it. While there is nothing wrong with looking good or impressing others; the problem comes when I want to look good no matter what happens to God's reputation in the process. Before I pray, I should be asking myself, "Who will get the credit if God answers my prayer."

Idols take different forms, (property, clothing, possessions), tangible objects end up getting more value than intangible realities, (spiritual growth, salvation, giving to those in need, spending time with loved ones.) God’s Word tells me that those who spend their time accumulating tangible objects are as foolish and empty as the idols themselves.

This psalm also reminds me that "The Lord remembers me." There are many times when I feel isolated, alone, and abandoned, even by God. However in reality, he sees, understands, cares and thinks about me. When I get depressed by problems or struggling with self-worth, I can be encouraged that God keeps me in his thoughts. If he thinks about me, surely his help is near.

Everyone ends up trusting in something. I can even make good things — like my marriage, my family, or even my ministry in the church — into idols.

But trusting in things other than God can have devastating effects upon life. If I think who I’m with or what I do will make me totally fulfilled, I’m setting myself up for deep disappointment. The Bible reminds me of this in Jeremiah when he says, “Those who make idols are disillusioned” (Jeremiah 10:14 GNT).

But I end up doing it all the time with my career, relationships, and bank account. I often act as if those created things give me meaning in life.

And when I do that, I’m just setting myself up for failure. The Bible says, “The poor, deluded fool … trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask: ‘Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?’” (Isaiah 44:20 NLT)

Those idols are lies. Sadly, idols don’t just stop after they’ve disappointed me, though. Eventually, they enslave me, as well.

The Bible says, “Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them” (Psalm 115:8 GW). Whatever I value the most in life, I’m going to become like. If I value money, I’ll eventually become a materialist. If I value pleasure, I’ll become a hedonist. If I value works, I’ll become a pragmatist. If I value above all else Jesus Christ, I’ll become a Christian.

So if putting something else first in my life warps me, why do I do it?

It’s likely because I want a god I can control. I want to be able to manage him. If I make money my god, I feel as if I can control it. If I make other people my gods, I set out to control them. It makes me feel better.

But I can’t control God. He says, “Don’t reduce me. Don’t try to fit me into your lifestyle. Don’t try to control me.”

Bottom Line:

If you create an idol, you end up just like it.

What this means to me:

If I create an idol, I’ll end up just like it, as everyone else who trusts in it.

In summary, It's not about me, but God. All glory be given to him for his unfailing love and faithfulness. Avoid making idols and trusting in them. Trust in the Lord, for he is the one who can help and provide safety for me. Avoid asking for God to glorify his name with mine. Ask, who will get the credit if God answers my prayer. God doesn't want me to reduce him or try to control him or make him fit into my lifestyle.

Thank you Father for your blessings and loving care for me. Forgive me for the times when I have prayed for your help, received it, but not stopping to give you thanks or recognition of what you have done. I pray this morning Father that you continue to help me manage my teams and my own work loads. Help me to communicate rightly with others or jump to conclusions. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name.

People Pleasing Is Idolatry

In review of Galatians 1:10 it says, “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.”

Bottom Line:

Do not try to please people, instead try to please God. If pleasing people was your goal, then you would not be Christ’s servant.

What this means to me:

I am to not concentrate on pleasing people, instead, my focus should be on pleasing God. I can’t please people and be Christ’s servant. In life, I really only have to please one person. And that is my Creator. I only have to please the Lord, the one who made me and has a purpose for my life. Knowing this simplifies life greatly. I only really need one person’s approval: God’s.

Jesus said it like this in John 5:30: “I don’t try to please myself, but I try to please the One who sent me” (NCV). He basically says, “I’m living for an audience of one.”

What I’m learning is that pleasing people is a form of idolatry. The first commandment in the Ten Commandments is, “Don’t have any gods before me.” Anything I put before God becomes a god. So, my career could be a god. My hobbies could be a god. Watching TV can be a god. Anything that becomes number one in my life that isn’t God, becomes your god.

The second commandment is, “Don’t make any idols.” Anything that replaces God in my life is an idol. Success can be an idol. Money can be an idol. A relationship can become an idol. If any of these is more important than God, it’s an idol.

So trying to be a people pleaser, allows something other than God to take first place in my life. All of a sudden it becomes god in my life. I do this because their opinion matters more than God’s opinion. What they think of me matters.

So what I need to remember is that, in life I only have to please one person. Paul says in Galatians 1:10, “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” (NLT).

Today I will consider what things I’m allowing to become an idol, above God, and then refocus my attention and energy on Him.