Stop trying to please people

Image by Doug Wildman via Flickr

"Stop trying to please people" By Diane Webb

"But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me".

 Jesus warns his disciples the world will treat them the same way they treated him--because they do not know God. If they knew God, they would recognize Jesus is the son of God. As Christians, we inspire dislike and maltreatment in some people. We, like Moses, are strangers in a strange land (Exodus 2: 21, 22). We stick out as foreigners among native people. We are different. When we were adopted into Christ's family, we became disciples as well. The disciples were persecuted for teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4: 18) and we, too, can expect discrimination. All but one of the apostles was eventually put to death for their belief and teachings. The one who was not put to death was John who was exiled to the island of Patmos where he died. The book of John was unarguably written by one who was close to Jesus and lived during the same time period. There is no complete agreement on the actual authorship of John although tradition attributes it to John the apostle (the one who died on the Isle of Patmos). Others say it was written by one of the disciples of John rather than John himself. Regardless, it is clear the individual who wrote the book of John was close enough to the actual events to record them as historical facts. In the book of John, the writer indisputably refers to Jesus and God as one (John 10: 30). Jesus, as man and God, stood before these people, and basically told them, "You will be killed for being one of my followers and preaching in my name". In spite of this knowledge, they went on to teach and preach in the name of Jesus. Take courage from these early Christians as you, too, face harassment, jealously, meanness, teasing, and other forms of hardship for being a Christian. It may not be obvious forms of persecution and hatred related to your religion but it is just as powerful as what the disciples faced. Perhaps it is an undercurrent of hostility or something else you can't quite put your finger on. It would be greater cause to worry if you did not have someone who does not like you. Jesus himself said if you follow me people will hate you. So many of us strive to please everyone and in doing so really satisfy no one. People are a bottomless pit of want when your goal is to make them happy. The very idea you want to please everyone is a set up for people to take advantage of you. It is the weapon people will use to control you. If there is something they want you to do, and you don't want to do it, all they have to do is act displeased and there you go! If you could begin to understand it is not your place to please people, it would free you up to focus on the great commission, which is the same mandate to all Disciples of Christ. Matthew 28:16-20 reads, "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world'. Amen."

Heavenly Father, help me today to resist the urge to please people. Give me the courage to face displeasure, dislike, and people thinking badly of me. Help me keep my focus on pleasing you and fulfilling the great commission as you would have me do. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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