Day 4
Lisa Sheffler, author
A lot us fall victim to being a “people-pleaser” because we want to be well thought of and admired. An unfortunate by-product of living in the social media age is that we can try to measure our worth by the number of “likes” we get.
If being liked is our number one priority, we’ll be tempted to twist ourselves into whatever others want us to be. Our principles can become malleable, easily shaped into whatever is popular. But opinions that are popular are not necessarily godly.
Paul was being accused by his opponents for being a “people pleaser” and today we’ll consider why.
Read
Galatians 1:10
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
There are lots of ways Paul could have combatted the idea that he was a “people pleaser.” In verse 10 he responds by saying he’s a servant of Christ. Why do you think he uses that as his defense?
Reflect
We can infer from what Paul says in verse 10 that his opponents were attacking his credibility by questioning his motives. Hadn’t Paul twisted the word of God to come up with a message that would be popular with people? Wasn’t his gospel about being well liked and well paid rather than teaching the truth? These were the accusations the people may have heard from those who opposed Paul.
In the Roman world, professional orators were common. A wealthy patron might entertain his guests by hiring a gifted speaker who was trying to increase his status and his income. It also wasn’t unusual to find philosophers and religious missionaries who traveled from town to town looking for fresh converts.
What kinds of messages do you imagine appealed to the people of Paul’s day? Like people today, many wanted to hear something flattering and ear-tickling. A message that made them feel good about themselves or maybe something that promised maximum benefit for minimal effort. Paul’s opponents may have been accusing him of providing that kind of message.
This same criticism would follow Paul for much of his ministry. His Jewish critics accused him of twisting the word of God to make it more appealing for Gentiles. Following the Jewish law was difficult. Full conversion to Judaism required males to be circumcised. The Jewish food and sabbath laws were restrictive.
Paul’s opponents accused him of offering the benefits of a relationship with God without requiring the necessary changes in lifestyle. They couldn’t understand how sinful, pagan Gentiles could possibly become part of God’s covenant family without proving themselves by fully converting to Judaism. Surely that’s what God required, and if Paul was preaching something else, he must have ulterior motives.
This was of course a gross distortion of Paul’s motives and message. Paul was proclaiming the gospel of grace. God doesn’t accept you because you’re worthy. You’re worthy because God accepts you. And anyone who truly understands the gospel will tell you, allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ will radically change your life. It won’t happen overnight, but the Spirit of God will work to transform you into the image of Christ. To follow Jesus means picking up your cross, laying down your rights, and serving others. And that’s not a message that everyone wants to hear.
As Paul clearly states, he’s not a people-pleaser, he’s a servant of Christ. He obeys his Lord and serves his purposes. You can live in service of other people’s opinions, but crowds are fickle and don’t stay pleased for long. Jesus is our master — a master who died for his servants. His opinion is the only one that matters.
Respond
Spend some time with your Father today. Remember his great love for you and relish in his complete acceptance of you. Ask him to show you ways that you are a “people-pleaser.” Repent and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.