Be A God Pleaser Not A People Pleaser (From our 9-7-2025 Worship)
Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/jXLmneiBJg4
Summary:
Title: People Pleasing vs. God Pleasing
Summary:
Title: People Pleasing vs. God Pleasing
Introduction
The song This World Is Not My Home reminds us that we’re just passing through—but often that “passing through” feels like a grind of endless demands and expectations. Every time we turn around, someone wants something more from us. In those moments, it feels easier to say yes than to risk the pushback of saying no.
The song This World Is Not My Home reminds us that we’re just passing through—but often that “passing through” feels like a grind of endless demands and expectations. Every time we turn around, someone wants something more from us. In those moments, it feels easier to say yes than to risk the pushback of saying no.
Jesus as Example – Mark 1:28–39 (ESV)
- Jesus was surrounded by people with needs—healing, demons, suffering.
- After a long night, He rose early to pray in solitude.
- When the disciples said, “Everyone is looking for you,” the implied demand was, “Come back and keep working.”
- But Jesus said no to that town and yes to His mission: “Let us go on to the next towns … for that is why I came out.”
- Jesus shows us that sometimes the good can become the enemy of the best.
Aaron as Warning – Exodus 32
- While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the people pressured Aaron to make an idol.
- Out of fear and people-pleasing, Aaron gave in. The result was wasted time, wasted talent, idolatry, and chaos.
- People-pleasing led Aaron to:
- Waste his gifts on building a false god.
- Violate his values by organizing false worship.
- Blame others and lie when confronted.
- Bring guilt and judgment upon himself and the people.
Principles for Us
- You’ll always be outnumbered – but God calls you to stand firm.
- People-pleasing wastes time and energy that God gave for better purposes.
- It violates values when you trade God’s truth for human approval.
- It doesn’t make anyone better—leadership requires the courage to say no.
- It brings guilt and regret—better to disappoint people than to disobey God.
New Testament Application – Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? … If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? … If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
- You cannot be both a people pleaser and a God pleaser.
- God values you—you are worth standing up for because Christ died for you.
Conclusion
Saying no isn’t about selfishness; it’s about priorities. Jesus modeled it, Aaron failed at it, and Paul preached it: God’s approval matters most. Don’t let fear or guilt push you into pleasing people at the expense of serving Christ.
Saying no isn’t about selfishness; it’s about priorities. Jesus modeled it, Aaron failed at it, and Paul preached it: God’s approval matters most. Don’t let fear or guilt push you into pleasing people at the expense of serving Christ.
