People Pleasing

We all want people to like us. Don’t we?

Anyone who says no is either lying or they are disturbed. We need people to like us, not the person they want us to be. And sometimes we fall into that trap.

We try to please people.

The only One we should live to please is God. When trying to please people instead of God, we are being who people want us to be instead of who God wants us to be. And a piece of us dissolves away each time.

We are commanded to love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls and to love others as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40). We are not commanded to please people. However, we do have Biblical imperatives regarding others, with the most important to love them as ourselves. Here’s a short list:

Love one another
Be devoted to one another
Honor one another
Accept one another
Instruct one another
Serve one another
Be kind and compassionate to one another
Submit to one another
Forgive one another
Teach and admonish one another
Encourage one another
Spur one another on towards love and good deeds
Offer hospitality to one another

But we should do all of these “one anothers” flowing from who we are. We don’t compromise God’s creation that is uniquely us.

Love God. Please God. Love people.

Be yourself.