May 2024

Are you in the people pleasing business?

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

Are you a people pleaser? Do you enjoy creating environments and making decisions that result in the support of the people around you? Most would agree, it feels good to contribute to others’ happiness. But what do you do when there is a choice between pleasing someone and making the right decision? This is a situation that we all find ourselves in from time to time, especially those in leadership. 

The Apostle Paul is known in the Bible for his letters and messages to the churches. As you read through the various letters, you will find words of encouragement. However, frequently, you will discover warnings and corrections. I can only imagine that people in those days had a love/hate relationship with Paul. In the book of Galatians, Paul is upset by the fact that the people of Galatia had allowed false teachings to infiltrate the church. Instead of people standing up for the truth and what they knew in their hearts to be correct, they were falling victim to the peer pressure around them. In Galatians 1:10 (NIV), Paul says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul understood that his message would not be popular or make people very happy. However, he was willing to sacrifice the approval of some to gain the approval of the One that really matters. 

I love the fact that Paul starts the book of Galatians off by saying, verses 1-2 (NIV), “Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead – and all the brothers and sisters with me.” Paul knew who sent him and what message he was supposed to deliver. Paul’s confidence to say and do the right thing is an example to us all. The consequences of not obeying or acknowledging our Savior may be more serious than you think. Jesus himself said in Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV), “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Who we represent matters!  

Farshad Asi once said, “The key to having fewer disappointments in life is to stop pleasing people. Your true calling is to please God.” While it is true that we should care more about pleasing God than people, we must be careful to understand that to please God, we must love others. We should care about people, their opinions, and the impacts of our decisions. Philippians 2:3-5 describes what our behavior should look like. We should do nothing with selfish ambition or vain conceit. We should be humble and value others over ourselves. We should have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. How we treat, communicate, and interact with people should be a good representation of our Lord and Savior. There are many times that we can and should be intentional about making people happy. However, we must be prepared to stand firm when doing the right things will bring criticism and dissatisfaction.  

Challenge: Be strong in your values and faith. Be ready to follow Paul’s example by making the tough decisions that will bring glory and honor to God regardless of people’s opinions.  

Published: May 1, 2024

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