Ok, so I kind of feel like I'm cheating a little, but today at work I read a devotional and it expressed some things that I needed to hear and had been praying and thinking about concerning myself and some of my peers.
Here it is:
“Disease to Please”
How many remember the 80’s? It was a time of parachute pants, acid washed jeans, Ocean Pacific t-shirts, big hair, neon clothing, Member’s only jackets, huge earrings, penny loafer shoes, Izod shirts, (with the collar up) and let's not forget the baggy blazer with the sleeves rolled up.
No matter what decade you grew up in, there was a certain look, a certain style that all of us tried to obtain so we could simply “fit in.” Why? All of us want to be liked. All of us want people to be happier when we walk into a room then when we leave. However, I have learned as a pastor (We struggle with this more than anyone) that there is a very fine line between someone who cares about people and someone who is a people pleaser.
The “Disease to Please” is something that is very contagious and hard to fight off. It plays no favorites. Everyone is a potential casualty. What are some symptoms of this disease?
-We take criticism WAY too personal. Consider this, when you are secure in Christ, your need for human acceptance decreases. When you aren't secure in Christ, rejection kills you.
-Fear of rejection secretly and quietly drives a lot of our choices. When you are secure in Christ, you easily obey the voice of God. When you are not secure in Christ, you constantly fear the opinions of people. The reality of the situation is that insecurity is the root of this disease.
Therefore, the cure for this disease is an understanding of where our security comes from. Man’s opinion or God’s perspective? The question is, who are we living for? Now please remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with dressing in the latest fashion or design. Be as cool as you want to be.
We simply need to be careful that God's opinion is shaping our decisions and attitudes and not just the opinions of the people around us. Other people have NOTHING to do with how God looks at you. Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way that people pleasing is not a relational issue, it is a spiritual issue. I’m learning to live for an audience of One. May I encourage you to do the same? After all, His opinion is really the only one that matters anyway.
Dan Atkins, Pastor at Discover Church
i need to live that word out each day. thanks for posting, even if some say it's cheating. after all, it doesn't matter what they think, right?
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