Do you care about what others think of you?
Have you ever done things you don't really want to do just to please or make someone else happy?
Have you ever made any sacrifices to please God?
Do you seek validation more from people than seeking to please God? Be honest with yourself.
Well, I am going to answer my own questions. Yes, I have cared about what others think of me and how I am viewed in other people's sight. I have made decisions to not do things I really want to do because I have been more concerned and pressed about what others will think, if I do not do what they want me to do.
I have also done things I don't really want to do to make others happy. I would put my own happiness on hold or on backorder, so that I can make someone else happy at that moment. Most importantly, I would not always do the things that God wanted me to do because I was afraid of what people would think or say.
Yes, I have made sacrifices to please God but not as nearly as many as I have to please people.
At this point in my life, I can honestly say, I am only seeking to please God. I have to also honestly say, I just got to this point, where I am only seeking to please God, without caring what others think. It is not that I don't want to please because I sincerely do but trying to please God and people at the same time, does not work. Putting people before God, will never work. I have been in between...lukewarm, if you will.
So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. -Revelation 3:16 (NIV)
One of the worst things to be viewed as by God is lukewarm and having lukewarm faith in God; either we believe in God, or we don't. Either we are concerned with worldly things, or we are going to be concerned with Godly things. God allows us to make a choice about the temperature of our faith in Him. Will we be cold (worldly), lukewarm (indecisive or in between) or hot (spiritual and on fire to do the will of God)? Maybe these statements and scripture will help influence our choice...
We should not put anything or anyone before God. God created everything and everybody.
You shall have no other gods before me. -Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
We also have to stop allowing the things that people say to us or about us, convince us that we are not who God created us to be or what God called us to be. God has a purpose for all of us. Some of us may feel that God cannot and will not use us or have not given us a purpose because we are too flawed, and we have made too many mistakes, this is not true. Let no one persuade you, that you are useless, and God has no purpose for you. The mere fact that God created us, and we are alive should indicate to us, God created us for a divine purpose that is way bigger than what we even realize. See yourself as God sees you. God created us all uniquely and we can all serve God and his people in unique ways.
If God gives you a vision to serve or help people, move forward with that vision. God will put the people in your life that is supposed to help you move forward with the vision He has given you. It is tempting to tell everybody what your vision is, and the ideas God gave you but telling everyone is a set up for disappointment and opportunity for fear, worry and doubt to set in, which will hold you back. Do not expect everyone to be excited about the purpose, vision or idea that God gave you. Go to God about who to tell and to ask for help, while in the process of creating and building the vision God gave you.
One of the ministers at my church, reminded the congregation during a recent Sunday worship service, Jesus' church has been given everything we need to live a life that pleases God.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. -2Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Make a choice to please God and not people. God has given us everything we need to live a life that pleases God, we just have to stand firmly on our decision to please God and not people. We can refer to the bible for God's word, which will tell us, what exactly pleases God.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Roman 12:2 (NIV)
