Journal: Galatians & I Thessalonians

 In both Galatians and 1 Thessalonians, Paul addresses the church, telling them a common thing, “Not to please man, but to please God.”  In Galatians 1:10, Paul says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Again, in 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes, “…but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”  In both of these Paul is referring to the handling and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A lesson is to be learned here, and a deep self-evaluation of ourselves should follow reading such passages.  Paul is declaring the divinity, authority, and supremacy of the gospel and how it must be proclaimed in the face of opposition from man.  To be a true servant of God, we must not only be willing, but active in actually carrying and proclaiming the gospel to all people everywhere, even in the midst of adversity.

                So why don’t I, or why don’t we, actually live in this way?  Yes, a piece of it is that we are fallen and sinful, I would agree.  But I think this series of questions will help us to determine why we really don’t live to please God and not man.  Our honesty with ourselves will be incredibly revealing as to why we have a hard time living to please God and not man.

1.       Do you believe that your life is truly not all about you?

2.       Do you believe in God’s infinite power to change hearts?

3.       Does it feel like pleasing God is more desirable or beneficial than pleasing man?  Why or why not?

4.       Do you trust that God has provided, is providing, and will continue to provide everything you need for life?

5.       Are you really not ashamed of the gospel?  Do you really believe that it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes? (Romans 1:16)

I urge you, and myself, in light of how we answer these questions, and in accordance with how Paul charges the Galatians and Thessalonians, to trust God and live to please Him, rather than man.  Let us change our perspective from our own glory, as we try to gain the approval of man, to God’s glory and the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, which tells of God’s free gift of his approval toward us through his son Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for our benefit.  Amen.