WHO AM I PLEASING?

Gal. 1:10 – For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Because Chuck, last week, asked us to read Philemon as Paul, Philemon, and/or Onesimus, let’s review the latter’s possible heart-stance. Was he pleasing Paul or God in returning to his master/employer after having run away.

Phil. 1:11 – Onesimus is described by Paul as having been “unprofitable” – meaning he was inefficient in his labors to the point of uselessness. In other words, undependable.

 V. 18 – Paul goes further in stating that He himself will repay anything that cost Philemon that was done (or taken) by Onesimus.

 Humility is required on the part of Onesimus to please God in returning at Paul’s encouragement, and to stand before his master as this letter is read – perhaps aloud.

HUMILITY V.S. COMPLAISANCY (both involve yielding our will to someone.)

PAUL, Gal. 1:11-24 – This zealous persecutor of the church, the Way of Christ, received revelation from Jesus personally.

• Revelation, be it in the form of instruction, understanding opened to the truth, or counsel must come from Jesus, not through mystical experiences (v. v. 6-8).

o People-pleasing often leads us away from the truth of the Gospel.

o Began to listen to voices not from God – i.e., false teachers, angels

• Acts 17:10-12 – The Bereans received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

o Described as ‘noble’ – this could indicate they were more educated in that they could read and had access to the scriptures.

o Readiness of mind to believe – they were willing to embrace and apply the truth they heard and read.

o This showed a desire to please God rather than man in that they searched the scriptures first to see if what they heard through teaching was backed up.

Do you search the scriptures for revealed truth after having heard something ‘new’ being preached?

Can you think of a time when you didn’t and the Lord later corrected your understanding? What happened?

JOSHUA – Jos. 13:1 – Joshua was ‘old and advanced in years’ at age 80 or 85. He died at age 110, so he had 25-30 years of life left.

• Joshua grabbed hold of the assignment the Lord gave him (encouraging the tribes of Israel to go possess the lands the Lord had given them.)

o He did not listen to the voice of people if they were saying he was too old.

o He didn’t listen to his own thoughts about whether or not he felt capable.

o I say this because the Lord was always saying “be strong and of good courage” – indicating that he struggled inwardly with his capabilities and how he perceived himself.

• Failed to seek God’s counsel and slipped into people-pleasing – Jos. 1:14-18 – resulted in the people complaining against their leaders as well as having made an unbreakable truce with some of the people of Canaan that the Lord had told them to subdue.

KING SAUL – I Sam. 15:17, 19, 24 – when he was little in his own sight, he was made head (king) of the tribes of Israel.

• Promotion comes when we are humble and submitted to the Lord. Saul may have struggled with self-esteem, but at this point in his life it caused him to be humbly obedient and therefore was able to lead to a victorious military victory. (I Sam. 11:6, 13-15)

• Yielded to the people and lost his humility before God – I Sam. 19, 24 – just as Saul here, we often yield to people because of ‘fear’ or uncertainty.

CONCLUSION: John 12:26 – If any man serve me, let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be; if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

I Cor. 7:22 – For he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Evidence that we walk in the Lord’s freedom no matter our circumstances.

Eph. 6:6-7 – No with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

Col. 3:23-25 – And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid/receive the wrong for what he has done: and there is no partiality/respect of persons.

Pleasing men brings us into error, wrong behavior/endeavors, bondage of guilt, confrontation, and confusion.

Pleasing God brings us honor from Him, frees us from bondage of guilt, remorse, wrongs, and brings us into our inheritance from Christ Jesus.