More On Pleasing God

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I wrote a post a few months ago about pleasing God, and many of you left sweet comments about how that had helped you. I especially love to hear when something I've written has encouraged you, and I heard from several of you in public comments and by email who were helped by that post. Thank you for letting me know that!

One of the comments here was from my friend Deby, and I wanted to address it publicly because her question opened up a new line of thought for me. Here's what she asked:
Is it carnal to want to please others...I just don't know....sometimes our hearts are pure on this, othertimes it is probably my flesh crying out for the approval
I really think she answered her own question here: sometimes our hearts are pure; sometimes we just want the approval of others. And I really think that's the key! What is your motive for pleasing others? Are you seeking to serve them (thereby serving God), or are you seeking to make yourself feel good or be noticed (serving yourself)?

For example, it's good and right for us wives to please our husbands. I believe with my whole heart that serving our husbands is serving God. If you keep your house clean to please your husband, that is pleasing to God. However, if you keep your house clean for the approval of your friends or to hear their compliments on how well you keep house or how organized you are - which gives you a feeling of self-worth - then I don't think that's so pleasing to God. I think he would call that vanity or being puffed up. When your house is a trash heap when your husband comes home from work, but it's spotless for friends to come over, I'd say you're doing it for fleshly, people-pleasing reasons! Ask me how I know this! LOL

For me, it all boils down to one thing: am I doing {insert good deed here} to make people think I'm doing good, to hear their compliments, to receive praise? If so, then I believe we're serving ourselves and not God. Kind of makes me reevaluate my motives!

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31

Comments

  1. Barbara H.6:53 AM

    I think you're exactly right, Susan. Pleasing others can be a means of showing love to them and ministering to them. But it can also be a means of self-gratification and attention-seeking. I constantly need to ask the Lord to keep my motives pure.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ~~Deby6:07 PM

    I think your verse summed it up....thank you Susan for your wisdom and how you use our precious WORD of GOD....to back up what you share...
    Deby
    can't wait till January...plan to attend to WHOLE thing !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. nanasknoll9:20 PM

    I agree whole heartedly with this post. It certainly is our motives. When I am cleaning as a wonderful job given to me by the Lord, I am most happy and peaceful, am doing for the Lord and my husband
    nanasknoll.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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