GOD’S PLEASURE OVER MAN’S
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
Think back to a time when you did something that made someone happy. You may have bought your spouse the perfect gift, given your kid an amazing experience, pulled off an amazing project at work or simply made a drive-thru worker laugh when you could tell they were having a rough day. It feels good to help and please others, to know that something you did made a difference in someone else's life.
Pleasing people can be a noble pursuit, but it can be destructive as well. If you’re a people pleaser, you most likely can remember a time (or times) when you went to great lengths to please someone else to your detriment or the detriment of people you care about. All of us can think of examples where we did something to please someone—a spouse, a family member, a friend, an employer—only to feel like a doormat once we were finished.
Examining our motives on the other end of one of these experiences can be a humbling exercise. For example, have you ever held a door open for a stranger, only for them to walk through without a word of thanks? If you were expecting a Thank You for your kindness, the person’s ingratitude can be frustrating. I’ve seen door holders yell You’re welcome! after the person walked through. If you’re the door holder and you get frustrated when you don’t get a thank you, you need to ask yourself: Are you helping others for the sake of service or the accolade on the other end of the service?
God sees your actions AND your motives. He knows what you did and exactly why you did it. And he always knows your heart better than you do. Truly coming to terms with this can be humbling, but it can be equally freeing. You know and serve a God who knows you intimately and is fiercely committed to your growth and development. You can’t hide anything from Him, but you don’t have to hide anything from Him. He knows, and He’s still rooting for you anyway. That’s a God worth pleasing!
APPLICATION: Are there any areas of your life where you do the right thing for the wrong reason? Ask God to speak into that part of your heart.
PRAYER: God, thank You for knowing me inside and out. Give me a heart that wants to please You with every breath I take. Help me care about Your work, Your priorities. Let me feel Your pleasure and pride as Your child when I do a good job for You. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?