There’s Only One ‘Like’ You Really Need - Unsubscribe from Approval

“Don't pay attention to everything people say.” Ecclesiastes 7:21 (GNT)

I'm not sure that I've posted something online and then just walked away without worrying about what anyone thought or how people reacted? Honestly, that’s not easy to do. Most of us want to check, see the reactions, and know what people think.

Why is social media so addictive? Why do I feel the need to check a post after I share it? Why do I keep checking my phone when I hear a notification?

I know part of it is that I want approval. I want to be liked. When I hear that notification sound, it feels good because it’s like instant feedback that someone noticed me, liked what I said, or agreed with me. It’s easy to start depending on that feeling.

But I remind myself that public opinion shouldn’t influence how I live my faith, as it says in James 2:1. Public opinion doesn’t determine what I believe, how I feel about myself, or what I choose to do. No number of likes or notifications is ever going to lead me in the right direction spiritually.

That’s why I remind myself of Ecclesiastes 7:21 — not to pay attention to everything people say. Even when I say something positive, encouraging, or thoughtful online, there will always be someone who misunderstands, disagrees, or says something negative. If I base my happiness on how people respond, I’m setting myself up for disappointment.

But when I stop living for the approval of others, then one comment, one like, or one opinion doesn’t control my mood or my confidence. When I can share something without worrying about how everyone will react, then my happiness isn’t tied to other people’s responses.

Yes, I naturally want approval from others. But I want my main focus to be the same focus Jesus had — to please God above everyone else. In John 5:30, Jesus said He was focused on pleasing the One who sent Him. That’s the mindset I want to have.

When I live for the approval of One instead of the approval of everyone, social media becomes just a tool I use — not something I depend on to feel valued or accepted.

So inspired by Ecclesiastes 7:21, “I won’t pay attention to everything people say.”

In summary:

Ecclesiastes 7:21 serves as a wisdom-filled guardrail against the trap of people-pleasing and the anxiety of reputation management. In a modern context, this translates to resisting the "dopamine loop" of social media notifications and the weight of public opinion. By aligning with the mindset of Christ—who prioritized the approval of the Father over the acclaim of the crowds—you shift from being a reactive consumer of feedback to an intentional steward of your message. The core message here is emotional and spiritual autonomy: when God’s opinion is the primary metric, the noise of the crowd loses its power to destabilize your peace.

Bottom Line:

When I live for the "Audience of One," I trade the exhaustion of seeking constant approval for the freedom of a stable, God-given identity.

Next Step:

Practice the "Post and Pause" Discipline: To align my identity with God’s approval rather than digital feedback, commit to a 24-hour moratorium on checking notifications or comments after I post something online. This disciplined action forces me to decouple the act of sharing from the need for immediate validation, training my brain to find satisfaction in the integrity of the message itself rather than the volume of the response.

Is That Really the Best Option?

In Luke 9:62 it says, “Anyone who lets him be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (TLB)

The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to be selective. There will always be a lot of options and opportunities. But the key to effectiveness is being selective.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “Someone may say, ‘I’m allowed to do anything,’ but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth” (GW).

In other words, some things aren’t necessarily wrong—they’re just not necessary. Once we figure this out, we’re going to be able to better withstand the hard times in life. We’re going to become resilient!

When I know where I’m headed and I focus in that direction, the less likely I will be distracted by less important things. I’ll set priorities that have an eternal focus. I’ll realize what matters most in life, and I’ll choose not just good things but the most important things.

I’m being reminded in many different ways that what I want to become, needs to be clearly visualized and valued for what I want my life to look like. (i.e. Earl Nightingale’s “The Strangest Secret” - We become what we think about, “A goal is something we come from, not goto” - Rich Litvin, “If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your systems instead” - James Clear “Atomic Habits”.)

Jesus was a master of concentration. He lived a selective life, and it allowed him to give his life for God’s kingdom and do what pleased his Father.

Luke 9:51 says, “As the time drew near for his return to heaven, [Jesus] moved steadily onward toward Jerusalem with an iron will” (TLB).

Jesus modeled an iron will and fulfilled his purpose—even though he knew it would lead to his death. His focus helped him endure the pain and stress and persecution. Paul was the same way. He said, “This one thing I do,” not “these 40 things I dabble in.” He did one thing with his life—the most important thing.

I have incredible potential to be used by God, but the barrier is often that I haven’t settled what’s most important. If I think I don’t have time to serve God, then I’m not focused. If I spend more time on social media than I do getting to know God, then I’m not focused. If I have to do something else before I follow Jesus, then I’m not focused.

The Bible is clear: “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 TLB).

One day I’m going to stand before God. How will I answer him when he asks what I did with what I was given?

In summary, what does Jesus want from me? Total dedication, not a half hearted commitment. I can't pick and choose among Jesus' ideas and follow him selectively; I have to accept the cross along with the crown. I must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given me security, without looking back. With my focus on Jesus, I should not allow anything to distract me from following him.

I need to remember that the enemy will find ways to distract me, to keep me from doing God's work. So I must consider today what are the most important things in my life. I can then ask God to help me remain focused on what's most important.