Pleasing God Will Bless Others
Pleasing God Will Bless Others
What’s the difference between being thoughtful, kind, and accommodating to others versus being a people pleaser? As a recovering people pleaser myself, I can tell you that there is often a fine line of distinction. I learned that the key to understanding is to check your motive and your goal! What is at the heart of your desire? Where do you place your interests more? Jeremiah 17:5 says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.” Wow! So, when I want to do nice things so people will like me, it actually means my heart is departing from God since I desire man’s approval more than His? Take a moment to think about that: God warns that we are cursed if our goal is to please people because there is an element of manipulation involved, which is never God’s way! Our motive in every action made by choice must always be to please God and to bring Him glory, rather than seeking the glory for ourselves.
God blesses us according to the prophet when he declares, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). This promise of blessing is a stark contrast to the curse of seeking man's approval. But wait, there’s more! Jeremiah goes on to say that the one who trusts in God will, “…be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8). This is the abundant life that God promises to those who trust in Him instead of seeking the approval of others to feel blessed.
Let us Walk in His Way:
Dear Heavenly Father, it’s so tempting to want to be liked by people that we often sacrifice our own integrity at the expense of our intimacy with You. Please help us, Lord, to seek You first and Your righteousness, so that our devotion pleases You. Your pleasure over our seeking righteousness will ultimately make a difference in the quality of our lives. We thank You that pleasing You, trusting in You, actually ends up blessing us—and others—more than any other ‘pleasing’ ever could. May we always remember that seeking Your approval is the ultimate goal. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
by Corinne “Kinney” deHamel
author of “Walk in His Way” for
Carry the Light Ministries
