Who Are We to Please?

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10

You no doubt have heard said, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” There seems to be some question as to who is responsible for this particular saying or whether it is an adaptation from another similar quote that uses the word “fool” instead of “please”. Regardless of their origin these words ring of truth. In my line of work – this can really be a tough issue. I’d had a conversation with someone who what complaining in a way that we (referring to myself and the others that I work with) – couldn’t please everyone. Something to which I heartily agree. I asked the person I was speaking to this question – knowing the answer I was hoping to hear – If we can’t please all of the people, who are we supposed to please? That person didn’t have an answer and that made my heart hurt.

You see as followers of Christ; our first priority should be to please God. That is the point Paul is trying to make in the passage above. Let’s back up and get this into some perspective. Paul had written to the church in Galatia in order to address some issues the church was having with false teachers. Paul opens his letter with one of his wonderful greetings but then gets right down to giving this group of believers the what for about their behavior. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is not gospel...” (Galatian 1:6-7). Paul goes so far as to say that those responsible for interfering with the gospel of Jesus should be eternally condemned for trying to tell the gentile believers that they needed to follow Jewish law in order to really be saved. No doubt Paul’s comments didn’t win him any popularity contests, except perhaps by the few who had recognized what was going on and hadn’t fallen for it.

Paul is essentially saying in the passage above that all Christians and especially those who have been called into leadership positions by God need to focus on pleasing God, not men. That was the answer I was looking for when I asked who are we supposed to please.

If as followers of Christ, people who call ourselves by His name, we chose to please God first - with our whole lives what would that look like? Would our judgmental attitudes fade away? Would our desire to be pleased and to have things “our” way change? Would our gathering together as the people of God be less about how we think that should look or sound and more about getting to God’s heart and having God’s heart? Would we balance truth and grace instead of being all truth or all grace in our dealing with our follow believers and the non-believers in our lives?

We can try to please some of the people all of the time or all of the people some of the time knowing full well we will never make everyone happy and that trying to will break our own spirits or we can make the daily choice to please God first and watch as He takes us and those around us on an amazing journey into His heart as He changes ours.

A Prayer
Father – we can be so hard headed and stiff necked sometimes, forgive us for seeking to please ourselves and others before we think to please you. Show us Lord how to please you in our everyday lives. Lord give those You have called to lead on your behalf to have hearts that desire to please you before they please the people You have given them to shepherd. Be the strength, courage and wisdom all of us need to stand against those who want things their way instead of Your way. Thank you for who YOU are, draw us to you. Thank you that Your Son modeled pleasing You over pleasing Himself and by so doing made a way for all who believe to be restored. In the name of Jesus, who showed us how to please the Father – Amen.

Drama, Drama, Drama

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”
Luke 10:38-42

I really don’t like drama. Wait, no that really isn’t a true statement. I do like drama in a good book, on television, at the movies or on the stage. What I really don’t care for is, the drama that at times seems to be a constant in all of our lives, either because of our own choices, the acts of others or just because life is just that way – full of drama, drama, drama. That kind of drama brings on anxiety and stress; it can distract us from the things that are really real in our lives – especially as followers of Jesus. As I was lamenting to the Lord over a number of dramas currently playing out in my life and the lives of people around me, I couldn’t help but think of Martha and Mary.

Jesus and the guys had stopped in as they were passing through town. Martha set about creating a wonderful meal for the guests. Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet hanging on every word He spoke. Giving Him her full attention – Mary’s choice was an act of worship, she wasn’t about to let anything distract her from what the Lord was saying to her and the others sitting there. Martha

Now understand, Martha hadn’t made a bad decision in wanting to show hospitality to her guests, done will the spirit of generosity the preparation of the meal was also an act of worship. Her hospitality turned into a drama when she allowed it to distract her for an even better choice to be part of the what was really real in her home. Jesus was there, He was Lord, Messiah, the Creator of the universe become like one of His creatures – He was there in her home, speaking life changing truth into those who were listening. Her hospitality was getting in the way of the opportunity she had to just sit and chat with the Lord.

I have no doubt that Martha prepared a wonderful meal that day, but I also think that Jesus would have been just has happy to enjoy a simple meal of bread, cheese and wine, especially if it had resulted in no drama and both sisters sitting, listening, talking and learning about what it means to look like Jesus.

So what drama is distracting you from totally surrendered worship, from sitting at the feet of Jesus – learning to look and live like him. Maybe it’s just everyday life, maybe you are so caught up in serving, that you have forgotten who you are serving for. Maybe there are things in your life that in and of themselves aren’t bad thing, but because you have allowed them to take priority, that now that are turning into idols and keeping you from the One who is really, real.

Whatever is causing the dramatic distractions in your life – take a step back, surrender that worry and stress and just sit. Sit and listen to the voice of the One who know you more and loves you better than anyone else. Listen for the life changing truth He wants to speak into your heart. Breathe in the peace that He gives and find rest from all the drama, drama, drama.

A Prayer
Father – sometimes our lives get so filled with drama, that we are distracted from that One thing that is needed. The need to sit, be still and know that You are God. Listen to the life changing, image transforming truth that He has for each of us. Help to know when things have become more than just things, when serving had become an obligation rather than an act of worship for the One who taught how to serve. Forgive us Lord, replace the drama with your peace. In the name of Jesus, who is the One that is needed – Amen.

Spears and Grace

“Here us the king’s spear,’ David answered. ‘Let one of your young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘may you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.’ So David went on his way, and Saul Returned home.”
1 Samuel 26:22-25

There are times in life when people in our lives become spear throwers and we find ourselves ducking for cover or wounded. I know what that feels like it take a hit from a spear thrown by someone, who I would not have thought could do such a thing. Spears are whizzing past my head again, whizzing past others and I care for and my heart aches for those who have been wounded. I’ll be honest this sort of behavior irritates me and I have been struggling as old wounds feel like they are being re-opened and because I don’t want anyone to go through the kind of pain I faced at the hand of a spear thrower. It has taken almost two weeks of talking with God about not wanting to be all brimstone and fire in my response to the drama in my world and to find a way to bring encouragement to those under fire. That’s when David came to mind.

King Saul had become a spear thrower and David was his target. Saul had thrown two literal spears at David in an attempt to kill him. Once David has escaped, Saul continues to pursue him. This week’s passage marks the second time that David could have become a spear thrower himself and taken Saul’s life to stop the relentless pursuit and save his own skin. Two times the Lord had delivered Saul into the hands of David and his men. Two times David chose to show grace, to behave in a righteous manner toward Saul. David chose to continue respecting the office of the King, even if perhaps he no longer respected the Saul himself. David chose to act in a manner pleasing to the Lord God, taking the higher road of grace and mercy.

So what do we do, how do we respond when people in our lives become spear throwers? We take our lead from David. Learn to duck and then remember that the person throwing spears is made in the image of God like we are. Remember that they are just sinners in need of grace like we are. When given the opportunity to let fly a spear of our own, don’t. Lay that spear down and let that spear thrower know you are not going to treat them the way they are treating you.

David reminds us that the Lord will reward us for our righteous behavior and our faithfulness.

I pray that no one is throwing spears at you right now but if they are I hope that you will choose grace instead of picking up a spear.

A Prayer
Father – I ask that you would touch the hearts of the spear throwers in our lives. Forgive them Lord for throwing spears out of fear, anger, jealousy or whatever. Teach us to evade the spears that are whizzing past us and help us to respond with grace rather than spears of our own. In the name of Jesus, who show us grace when we are at out worse – Amen.