from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
Who’s the greatest in your life . . . God
or people? Let’s think together on the theme, Who’s the Greatest?
God>People
Am I now trying to win the
approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were
still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
When King Saul spared King
Agag and the best of the livestock instead of following God’s command to
destroy everything, he demonstrated that public opinion and popularity were
greater in his life than God. He told Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I
was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them” (1 Samuel 15:24). He
feared people more then God.
When Samson loved Delilah
more than God and feared losing her sexual attention more then he feared
sinning against the LORD, he gave into her nagging and revealed the secret of
his strength (Judges 16). He was bound with more than bronze shackles. He was
snared by the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25).
When David feared the scandal
that would surely take place if his secret affair with Bathsheba became public
knowledge, he went to murderous lengths to cover it up (2 Samuel 11). He
despised God’s Word instead of honoring it.
Abraham feared Abimelech and
lied about his wife. Elijah feared Jezebel and ran for his life. Peter feared
those who persecuted Jesus. Three times
he denied his Lord.
In the Gospels we learn of
those who believed in Christ. There was the Samaritan woman and many from her
village, the man born blind, Zacchaeus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and religious leaders. Yes, religious
leaders. But fear kept them from saying so. Many
even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would
not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for
they loved praise from men more than praise from God (John 12:42-43). They
feared being thrown out of the synagogue more than entering the Kingdom. It was
of higher importance to receive praise from people than approval from God.
When we fear people more than
their Maker, we make much of man and less of God. Paul makes it clear that we
can’t be people-pleasers and servants
of Christ. We’re either slaves to people–fearing disapproval or craving
approval, or we’re slaves to our Master. There’s no possibility of God and
others sharing center stage in our heart or lives. Who’s the greatest in your
life?
HE>i:
When are you most
tempted to be a people-pleaser? Think about what changes need to be made in
this relationship(s) to win the approval of God.
To trust
God rather than to fear man is to obey God’s clear directives, regardless of
popular opinion, apparent wisdom or the prospects for success.
John A. Kitchen
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