Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

PEOPLE-PLEASER

February 17, 2011

It's an expression that on the surface seems reasonable, maybe even a virtue, but as Disciples of Christ it can be a landmine. It’s a "people-pleaser," that is.

Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.
                                                        - 1 Samuel 15:24 TNIV

King Saul was a people-pleaser. He'd been given explicit instructions for the battle with the Amalekites, but he caved into the will of the people he aimed to please. He was more concerned with people pleasing than he was God pleasing.

I have some sympathy for Saul. After all, people are right here, you can touch them, and they can get downright feisty if they aren’t pleased. The outcome of Saul’s dilemna? God told Saul, "You're done. You honor the people, and dishonor me." And so it was. It's one thing to be fair, gracious, and generous to people, it's another thing to cave into them, and forget to please God. Seems like something about "Seek first the kingdom..."

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson