PEOPLE PLEASERS by Bola Olu-Jordan
Test your own character by these signs and see which class you belong.
Their aim is to keep up a respectable religious fronts for others. Instead of seriously asking for themselves what the Lord and His Word requires, they look simply at the common run of professing church people and copy them. They do that which is outwardly respectable, not primarily that which is right. (Ps. 36:1-2, Prov. 12:15, Matt.6:1-7, 16-18)
They indulge in secret sin.
If you allow yourself any sin secretly, (when you know how to get out of it but you can 'get along' without anybody knowing it), know that God sees it and he has already written down your name: 'hypocrite'! You are more afraid of disgrace in the eyes of men than disgrace in the eyes of God. If you loved God as you claim to and were tempted to do such things, you, as a true Christian would react like Joseph" "How can I do this thing and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:7-9, 2Tim. 2:19)
They may not sin secretly, but they secretly neglect duties that if known, would bring them shame, like Evangelism, Bible Study, Private Prayer etc. They will appear very pious at the church, but in the privacy of their own rooms, live different lives. Do you habitually or secretly omit some things, knowing how and why you should do them and yet are careful to perform other public duties… You love the Praise of me rather than God.
They are careful to stay away from sins forbidden by public opinion, but does other things not frowned at that are just as bad. They will never miss public worship because he could never hold a reputation for religion if he did, but neglects other things plainly required in the Word of God.
They dread the thought of being call fanatical.
They miss the first Principle of scripture: That all the world is wrong! The world's feelings are all against God, and every one who intends to serve God must, from the start, oppose its opinions. It is true and always have been that "they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions" They shall be called 'fanatical', 'extreme' and the like.
They always follow the crowd as it is and feeling after the tide, go that way, shrinking back from everything that goes in the face of public sentiment (Jer. 42:16, Acts 24:24-27.
They are very intent on making friends on both sides of the line.
They always make compromises and concessions to the crowd. They try to take both sides.
It has always been so for centuries, that men could make a good show of religion without ever being labeled as "holy".
The standard is still so low that a great number of churches still try not to be set down as 'reprobates' on one hand or fanatics on the other hand.
They are fashionable Christians. Their style of religion is fashionable and popular and they generally follow the world's fashion in dress and custom. No matter what God requires, they are carefully determined not to offend His enemies. If they are ever faced with a choice of pleasing their crowd or God, they will offend God (Prov. 4:14, Jas.4:4)…and apologize later
They will do more to gain the applause of men than the applause of Heaven.
They are more anxious to know what men think about them than about what man thinks.
If such a one is a minister preaching s sermon, or a singer, giving a song, they fish for compliment and applauds, more interested to know what men thought of it than what God thought of it.
If an elder or church member prays or speaks in a meeting, if he is a people-pleaser, he is thinking how he sounds to those who listen. (Mat. 15:7-8, Jas. 2:1-4). If he makes anything like a failure, the disgrace of men cuts him 10 times more than the thought that he has let God down or hindered others. (1Cor. 7:23, Col.3:22-23)
Females of this kind are vastly more concerned in church with how they look in the eyes of men than how they look in God's eyes. You can see at a glance what this religion is, the moment it is held up to view. No one is at a loss to say what the man or woman's name is: It is hypocrite! They go into God's house with a heart as dark as midnight, while everything on the outside is respectable and decent. (1Sam. 16:7, Mat. 23:28, 1Pet.3:3, 2Cor. 5:12)
They are often ashamed to do what they should; so much ashamed they will not do it! When a person is so much ashamed, it is plain that his reputation is his god. How many people pleaser do you know? They are ashamed to acknowledge Jesus Christ, ashamed to reprove sin in high and low places, ashamed to speak out when Christianity is assailed! If they really loved God, how could they be? If a man really loved a girl, would he be afraid to defend her if she was slandered? If a man's children were abused, would he be afraid to stand up for them? Not if he loved them. (Mk. 8:38, Jn.2:28).
The people-pleasers does not really love God, he loves himself and his reputation among other things. When among Church people, he is very bold for the truth and makes a great show of his faith. But put him among Christ enemies, where it would be a reproach to be called a Christian, put him to trial and he will sell Christ out like Judas or deny Him before His enemies. (Mat.10:32-33, Jn.1:20, Acts 3:13)
There is a great deal more apparent piety in the church than true piety. There are many things which sinners suppose are good but are abominable in the eyes of God. It is easy for people to take credit for people-pleasing lives and make themselves believe they are models of piety, when in fact, they are only examples of hypocrisy.
All that holds them back from open sin is public opinion, fear of disgrace and desire to gain credit for virtue. When a person is good from regard to God's authority-whether public sentiment favour or frown upon it-that is the true faith. (Jn. 8:28-29). If otherwise, they have their reward. They do it for the sake of gaining credit in the eyes of men and they gain it.(Ezek. 14:6-8).Who will agree to take the Bible for your rule and Jesus Christ for your pattern, doing what is right in all cases, whatever man may say or think? If you are not willing to take this stand, you are a stranger to the grace of God. A people-pleaser is by no means His child. If you are not resolved upon doing what is right, public sentiment or not, you love the praise of men more than the praise of God.
They often oppose men, measures and efforts to wake the church as long as they are
unpopular, but if they become popular, fall in with them. If the work becomes unpopular, they will turn against it.
Let a man of God begin to wake up churches to true faith; while he is still little known, the people-pleasers are not reluctant to speak against him. But let him go on and gain influence and they will profess to be his warmest friends. (lk. 6:7-9, Jn. 2:23-25)
This kind of person stand with the crowd when it condemns a man and turns the other way when he is honoured. There is only one exception: that is when they have become so far committed to the opposition that they can not change without disgrace, then, they will be silent, until another chance comes up for letting out the smoldering fires that are burning within them. (Matt. 22:15, Acts 5:17-33)
They never bother to raise the standards of right around them..
They are not bothered that the general standard of piety is so low in the church that a visiting early church Christian would have to backslide to be in fellowship! They like the present standard because they have conformed their religious reputation around it. If the real friend of God tries to wake up the church and raise the tone of faith, he seems critical and meddling into their lives.
They look simply at the common run of professing Church people and copy them. They do that which is outwardly respectable, not primarily that which is right. (Ps. 36:1-2, Matt.6:1-7, 16-18)
This kind of Christian is called: "people pleaser"
They are never saved. They chose to respect men rather than God and as a result forfeit life. "…for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (Jn. 12:43)
What are you?
Their aim is to keep up a respectable religious fronts for others. Instead of seriously asking for themselves what the Lord and His Word requires, they look simply at the common run of professing church people and copy them. They do that which is outwardly respectable, not primarily that which is right. (Ps. 36:1-2, Prov. 12:15, Matt.6:1-7, 16-18)
They indulge in secret sin.
If you allow yourself any sin secretly, (when you know how to get out of it but you can 'get along' without anybody knowing it), know that God sees it and he has already written down your name: 'hypocrite'! You are more afraid of disgrace in the eyes of men than disgrace in the eyes of God. If you loved God as you claim to and were tempted to do such things, you, as a true Christian would react like Joseph" "How can I do this thing and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:7-9, 2Tim. 2:19)
They may not sin secretly, but they secretly neglect duties that if known, would bring them shame, like Evangelism, Bible Study, Private Prayer etc. They will appear very pious at the church, but in the privacy of their own rooms, live different lives. Do you habitually or secretly omit some things, knowing how and why you should do them and yet are careful to perform other public duties… You love the Praise of me rather than God.
They are careful to stay away from sins forbidden by public opinion, but does other things not frowned at that are just as bad. They will never miss public worship because he could never hold a reputation for religion if he did, but neglects other things plainly required in the Word of God.
They dread the thought of being call fanatical.
They miss the first Principle of scripture: That all the world is wrong! The world's feelings are all against God, and every one who intends to serve God must, from the start, oppose its opinions. It is true and always have been that "they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions" They shall be called 'fanatical', 'extreme' and the like.
They always follow the crowd as it is and feeling after the tide, go that way, shrinking back from everything that goes in the face of public sentiment (Jer. 42:16, Acts 24:24-27.
They are very intent on making friends on both sides of the line.
They always make compromises and concessions to the crowd. They try to take both sides.
It has always been so for centuries, that men could make a good show of religion without ever being labeled as "holy".
The standard is still so low that a great number of churches still try not to be set down as 'reprobates' on one hand or fanatics on the other hand.
They are fashionable Christians. Their style of religion is fashionable and popular and they generally follow the world's fashion in dress and custom. No matter what God requires, they are carefully determined not to offend His enemies. If they are ever faced with a choice of pleasing their crowd or God, they will offend God (Prov. 4:14, Jas.4:4)…and apologize later
They will do more to gain the applause of men than the applause of Heaven.
They are more anxious to know what men think about them than about what man thinks.
If such a one is a minister preaching s sermon, or a singer, giving a song, they fish for compliment and applauds, more interested to know what men thought of it than what God thought of it.
If an elder or church member prays or speaks in a meeting, if he is a people-pleaser, he is thinking how he sounds to those who listen. (Mat. 15:7-8, Jas. 2:1-4). If he makes anything like a failure, the disgrace of men cuts him 10 times more than the thought that he has let God down or hindered others. (1Cor. 7:23, Col.3:22-23)
Females of this kind are vastly more concerned in church with how they look in the eyes of men than how they look in God's eyes. You can see at a glance what this religion is, the moment it is held up to view. No one is at a loss to say what the man or woman's name is: It is hypocrite! They go into God's house with a heart as dark as midnight, while everything on the outside is respectable and decent. (1Sam. 16:7, Mat. 23:28, 1Pet.3:3, 2Cor. 5:12)
They are often ashamed to do what they should; so much ashamed they will not do it! When a person is so much ashamed, it is plain that his reputation is his god. How many people pleaser do you know? They are ashamed to acknowledge Jesus Christ, ashamed to reprove sin in high and low places, ashamed to speak out when Christianity is assailed! If they really loved God, how could they be? If a man really loved a girl, would he be afraid to defend her if she was slandered? If a man's children were abused, would he be afraid to stand up for them? Not if he loved them. (Mk. 8:38, Jn.2:28).
The people-pleasers does not really love God, he loves himself and his reputation among other things. When among Church people, he is very bold for the truth and makes a great show of his faith. But put him among Christ enemies, where it would be a reproach to be called a Christian, put him to trial and he will sell Christ out like Judas or deny Him before His enemies. (Mat.10:32-33, Jn.1:20, Acts 3:13)
There is a great deal more apparent piety in the church than true piety. There are many things which sinners suppose are good but are abominable in the eyes of God. It is easy for people to take credit for people-pleasing lives and make themselves believe they are models of piety, when in fact, they are only examples of hypocrisy.
All that holds them back from open sin is public opinion, fear of disgrace and desire to gain credit for virtue. When a person is good from regard to God's authority-whether public sentiment favour or frown upon it-that is the true faith. (Jn. 8:28-29). If otherwise, they have their reward. They do it for the sake of gaining credit in the eyes of men and they gain it.(Ezek. 14:6-8).Who will agree to take the Bible for your rule and Jesus Christ for your pattern, doing what is right in all cases, whatever man may say or think? If you are not willing to take this stand, you are a stranger to the grace of God. A people-pleaser is by no means His child. If you are not resolved upon doing what is right, public sentiment or not, you love the praise of men more than the praise of God.
They often oppose men, measures and efforts to wake the church as long as they are
unpopular, but if they become popular, fall in with them. If the work becomes unpopular, they will turn against it.
Let a man of God begin to wake up churches to true faith; while he is still little known, the people-pleasers are not reluctant to speak against him. But let him go on and gain influence and they will profess to be his warmest friends. (lk. 6:7-9, Jn. 2:23-25)
This kind of person stand with the crowd when it condemns a man and turns the other way when he is honoured. There is only one exception: that is when they have become so far committed to the opposition that they can not change without disgrace, then, they will be silent, until another chance comes up for letting out the smoldering fires that are burning within them. (Matt. 22:15, Acts 5:17-33)
They never bother to raise the standards of right around them..
They are not bothered that the general standard of piety is so low in the church that a visiting early church Christian would have to backslide to be in fellowship! They like the present standard because they have conformed their religious reputation around it. If the real friend of God tries to wake up the church and raise the tone of faith, he seems critical and meddling into their lives.
They look simply at the common run of professing Church people and copy them. They do that which is outwardly respectable, not primarily that which is right. (Ps. 36:1-2, Matt.6:1-7, 16-18)
This kind of Christian is called: "people pleaser"
They are never saved. They chose to respect men rather than God and as a result forfeit life. "…for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (Jn. 12:43)
What are you?