For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. — Galatians 1:10
Our society is so consumed with seeking the approval of others. We see hundreds of photos, looking for the perfect lighting for the perfect selfie. They want to get the angle just right. Or perhaps it’s a short video where the person wants to share all about themselves and the things they are doing. But the problem goes much further than social media. This mindset has consumed our nation and our world.
Across various areas of life, we are told we need to be accepting. People want to be accepted. They want you to understand and appreciate their alternate lifestyles and varied beliefs and feelings. Everyone wants the approval of everyone else around them.
But that’s not what life is really about. Paul writes here about his past. He implies that in the past, he sought the approval of men. After his conversion, Paul no longer sought the approval of men but instead sought the approval of God.
This raises the question that we all must consider. Who are you living for? Are you more concerned with the approval and being accepted by those around you, or are you truly focused on living for God? You can’t have it both ways. If you are focused on living for God, others are of no concern to you. But if you are focused on being accepted by others around you, then God takes a back seat.
The world wants you to live a life that is acceptable in the eyes of others. You should have the look, the lifestyle, and perhaps even the right selfie on your social media profile. But at the end of the day, those things don’t matter.
What does matter is that we are living for God. We shouldn’t be worried about the approval of others around us. We should want God to approve of how we live our lives. That means living a life separated from the world and dedicated to Him.
Across the world, there are Christians that need encouragement and strength that only God’s word can provide. We are focused on helping Christians find encouragement, develop stronger relationships with God, and help non-Christians come to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. As a non-profit ministry, Another Well Ministries relies on donations to continue our work. You can find out more about us and ways to support us here.
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