For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? – Galatians 1:10
It feels pretty good when someone appreciates the work you do and praises you for doing a good job. And it feels fantastic when someone’s eyes light up and they smile and are glad to see you.
While it can be sweet to be encouraged by people, believers also need to be careful.
Jesus warns that if the world hated Him, they would surely hate His followers. Paul followed today’s verse with “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
How do you walk that line between being encouraged when someone praises you and caring too much about what others think? Dr. Phil’s humorous take is, “You wouldn’t worry so much about what other people thought about you if you knew how seldom they did.”
It is great to receive encouragement, especially when carrying out God’s will for your life, but what God thinks of you is more important. As children of God, you can bask in His love, acceptance, and forgiveness. He favors you because you belong to Christ and He appreciates the person He created you to be.
Receive compliments gratefully and be encouraged, while keeping in mind that pleasing God is what really matters. Encourage others, too, for the things they do. Pray for citizens and government officials to care more about their reputation with God than how they look in front of others.
留言