Should We Seek Man’s Approval or God’s?

Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

Have you ever been associated with a “yes man?” According to The Brittanica Dictionary,

“A yes-man is a person who agrees with everything that someone says; a person who supports the opinions or ideas of someone else in order to earn that person's approval” (https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/yes– man).

This individual doesn’t want to “rock the boat” or displease others, but wants to be liked and approved by everyone.

I have learned in my thirty-two years on this earth that it is impossible to please everyone! As a coach, teacher, and Gospel preacher, I know that someone will not be pleased with a drill, test, or statement that I make.

When it comes to spiritual things, we should strive to please God! As one preacher said, “If we please man but displease God, it doesn’t matter who we please. If we please God but displease men, it doesn’t matter who we displease!”

Our text today shows the importance of not being a “yes-man” but saying “yes” to God by seeking His approval for how we live (Psa. 19:14).

The Text.

Our text comes from the Book of Galatians:

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-10).

The apostle Paul addressed Christians who were being fickle in their Christianity. He called them “foolish” being “bewitched” by false teachers (Gal. 3:1).

Out of love, he emphasized the importance of not polluting or perverting the Gospel of Christ as some were doing. If anyone, even an angel from heaven, brought them “another gospel,” they were to reject it.

He then went on to ask two rhetorical questions before delivering an important statement of implication.

Question #1.

First, he asked the question: “For do I now persuade men or God?”

His audience knew that he was striving to glorify God. We have the privilege of reading throughout the New Testament where Paul spoke of glorifying God such as, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

To the church at Thessalonica he wrote,

“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess. 2:4).

He constantly reminded the brethren that they were to glorify God and the application is there for us today.

Notice the word “persuade.” This word means, “to seek acceptance and/or approval.” The English Standard Version reads, “Am I now seeking the approval of men or God?” The New International Version reads, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God?”

Paul was seeking God’s approval, not man’s.

Question #2.

Second, he asked the question: “Do I seek to please men?”

There were people who hated the apostle Paul. He endured much suffering for the cause of Christ (2 Cor. 11:22-28). He wasn’t trying to please everyone and was certainly not a “yes man,” for he had been “been crucified with Christ” and lived for Him (Gal. 2:20).

Notice the phrase “seek to please.” The word “seek” is a present, active verb which means it is a continuous effort (Matt. 6:33; 7:7). The word “please” is also a present active verb which means to give pleasure to or be pleasing to.

Paul did not seek to please men, but gave his all to be pleasing to God (2 Tim. 2:3-4).

What it Means.

Third and finally, we consider the important statement of implication: “For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

Jesus put it this way:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24).

One cannot be loyal to the world and loyal to God at the same time. James said,

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4).

Paul’s point of implication is that if we seek to please men to the neglect of seeking to please God, we cannot be servants for Christ!

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May we all see the importance of pleasing God regardless if others are pleased.

The Christian life comes with persecution (2 Tim. 3:12) even being disowned by family (Psa. 27:10), but pleasing God is what matters most!

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Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.

Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.