It is natural to want to be friends with and seek approval from our peers, but how far is too far? In today's episode, the guys discuss how to stop being “men-pleasers.” The Bible shows us that there are two fears: the fear of men and the fear of God. If you live your entire life trying to please others, it’s like continually trying to hit a moving target. People's expectations are always fleeting, and this will be a never-ending battle that will leave you exhausted and empty. Men are wicked and sinful, and our love for heroes is fragile. We see this reflected in the suicide rates of celebrities, who are so accustomed to pleasing men that when the favor of fans falls apart, they lose their identity and worth. It is impossible to please both man and God. Galatians 1:10 states, “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.” If we are trying to please men, we can’t please God. All the satisfaction that you need has been placed on the cross. God knows, loves, and accepts you because He made you, and all the approval you need is from Him.
Next, the guys discuss a hypothetical situation where something could be pleasing to both men and God. In these cases, we should examine our motive. Pleasing the Lord should be the heartbeat of everything we do. Desiring the approval of men is also a form of worship, because worship is anything that we prioritize above God. Out of a desire to “fit in,” we become imitators of those around us, which exposes us to the danger of an identity crisis. If we try to be like other people in this fallen world, we become like a fallen creature ourselves, where pleasing people prevents us from accomplishing God’s purpose for our life. We must choose to be who God made us to be, so we can glorify Him and share the gospel with others.
If the apostles in the Bible tried to please men instead of God, then they would not have been martyred for their faith. The guys discuss John F. Kennedy and John Lennon who were worshiped by the world. But when they lost their lives, the big question isn’t how handsome or rich or famous they were, but were their sins forgiven? People-pleasing may be seen as a “respectable sin,” but it is still a sin that creeps up secretly, unannounced and unnoticed. To keep this sin in check, we must be proactive in overcoming it. The guys suggest praying preventative prayers multiple times a day, studying and memorizing scripture, and reading books. If you don't act to change something, then that's evidence that you don't really want to overcome it. When we recognize our w
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Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro
