“We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” (1st Thessalonians 2:4b)
In the Old Testament, Saul was chosen by God to be King. God promised Saul that as long as he feared and obeyed Him the throne would always belong to his descendants. Not long afterward, Saul and his army defeated an enemy and the victorious soldiers wanted to take the spoils of war for themselves. God told Saul no. Saul told his men yes. That was the end for Saul. He would later lose his kingdom and die in battle.
David was just a boy when his brothers were in the army and about to go to battle. David went to visit them with some food from their father. He arrived to find a giant beast of a man taunting his brothers, their army, and his God. David asked why no one was willing to stand up to the giant and defend God’s name, but the soldiers laughed at him while his brothers berated him and told him to go home. Instead, David walked out and faced the giant with only his sling and some stones. The giant had barely finished laughing when the young boy’s stone struck him in the forehead, killing him instantly. That was the beginning for David who grew up and became King in Saul’s place.
Every day we are surrounded by people who expect, demand and pressure us to conform to their agendas, plans, or wishes. You can’t escape it. When the agenda, plan, or wish is against God’s will, there must be no hesitation to choose God’s way.
Your boyfriend wants you to move in together - NOPE.
Your best friend invites you out for a night on the town (drinks, bar hopping, and hookups) - SORRY.
Your parents set up an idol in your home for the family to worship (common in Asia) - IMPOSSIBLE.
Your supervisor tells you to fudge the numbers on the company's earnings report - CAN'T.
Your classmate asks for your test answers - NO.
Those are just five possible examples - out of the THOUSANDS you will face in life - where you must choose between pleasing man or pleasing God. Will your boyfriend’s feelings be hurt? Probably. Will your best friend be frustrated? Of course. Will your parents punish you for disrespecting them? Surely. Will your supervisor be angry and fire you? Most likely. Will your classmate want to punch you in the face? Yep. Will God be pleased that you listened to, trusted, and obeyed Him? Most definitely!
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
And after you die, when you stand before God to be judged for the life you lived on earth – it’s not boyfriends or best friends, parents, bosses, or classmates who will have your attention. Live for God as if your eternal life depended on it...because it does.
“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.” (Galatians 1:10)
ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO BEGAN MY DAYS AND WILL BRING THEM TO AN END, TO YOU ALONE WILL I ANSWER FOR THE LIFE I LIVE ON THIS EARTH. THEREFORE, I WILL LIVE TO PLEASE YOU AND NO OTHER. GIVE ME THE COURAGE TO SAY "NO" TO SIN AND "YES" TO YOUR WILL!