Pleasing Him

"Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." 

You can't be a people pleaser and a bondservant of Christ at the same time. Serving God, for real, will put you in direct conflict with the world. We must learn the difference between serving others as a Christian, and being a people pleaser. It starts with compromise and ends with frustration. You cannot please everyone, and you certainly cannot keep people happy...not if you are a Christian. The Gospel is offensive to sin. Conflict is inevitable. Wherever you go, you are carrying the gospel with you, just by being Christ-like. It will offend sin, and those living in sin. You may not get invited to certain events. Why? Because sin does not like to be remainder that it is sin. And, even if you do not say a word, the Holy Spirit who lives in you, cannot be hidden.  His presence in you, will cause those living in sin, discomfort. Do not flaunt piety. That’s not Godly either. Show genuine love for the sinner. After all, “...God showed His great love for us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Roman 5:8. Everyone, on the planet, has sinned. Including the saved. Since this is a fact, we should not and cannot look down on those still in the ignorance that living in sin creates.  

Even though there will be difficult conversations, lots of prayers, maybe tears, and peaceful conflicts find solace in this...In Matt 5:9 the Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”  Not peacekeepers mind you. Peacekeepers will compromise to please people. Peacekeepers will overlook sin at times, people pleasers are non-confrontational, and prefer any peace they can get. They even prefer temporary peace over the confrontation and work that peacemaking requires. I'd rather have lasting peace. I’d rather please God, and be called His child. How about you?

We love you, and are praying for you  
~Pastor Erroyl and Sis. Pinky
SALT

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer: Show me the way to be a peacemaker and not a peacekeeper so that I may live a life that is pleasing to you.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen

Pleasing God or Pleasing Man?

"Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."

    You can't be a people pleaser and a bondservant of Christ at the same time. It's important to learn the difference between serving others as a Christian, and being a people pleaser. People pleasing typically starts with compromise, and ends with frustration. You alter your commitments, promises, or pledges. The end result often leaves you as the "bad guy" or the "fall guy".  Serving others for Christ has intentionality, purpose, and most often won't require a compromise. 

   Example: I find it difficult to say "no" when people ask for help. Especially in my "areas". This leads to issues with time management. It's caused strife in my home in the past. I miss events in my family's life, either because I'm not there, mentally, or I'm too tired if I am there. My wife and I have agreed that I must carefully monitor the things on my calendar, and the guard the margins fiercely. Soon after this decision, Sis Jones asks if I can lead next semester's men's small group because Bro. Larry has to cancel. "Of course I can. Glad to help." Before I know it, I've eroded the margins of my time, and cheated my family out of my time. 

   Reality check- You cannot please everyone, and you certainly cannot continually keep people happy...not if you are a Christian that is. Why? because, the Gospel is offensive to sin. And wherever you go and whatever you do, if you are carrying the gospel with/in you, just by being Christ-like, it will offend sin and those living in sin. And the offended will take it out on you. in effect, when you seek to please people you are in a bondservant to them. Something hinges on their happiness, and that keeps you in bonds. 

   I'd rather please God, and be bound in Him. How about you?

I love you, and I am praying for you 
~Pastor Erroyl
SALT