Don't Worry About Pleasing People. Please God.

Tuck and Roll style done with banana clip and bobby pins

We all try to please people at one point or another. We may try to please our parents, friends, co-workers etc.  When you try to please people, you may become disappointed. The reason is they may not react the way you feel they should. For example, you may hold the door for someone and expect a thank you, but you may not get one. You may become mad or upset at the person's reaction. When I was a child, my grandmother would always say, "You can please some of the people, some of the time. But, not all of the people, all of the time." The quote was said to be attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but there is much debate behind it.

My grandmother's favorite quote was true. You can never please everyone. What is the point in trying?
The truth is God did not put us on this earth to please people. He put us on this earth to serve him. We are supposed to glorify Him.

'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven'. - Matthew 5:16

Remember, if you are working to please people you are not pleasing the Lord.

'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

When you hold the door for someone, your kindness is suppose to show God's love. 1John 4:8 says, 'He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." Although, it's a good feeling when someone appreciates your good deeds, you are not helping them for their reaction. The same principle applies to the bigger things in life. They may include your relationship or friendship. It can be a hard thing to master. I know because I've been there, and I still have my moments. When you concern yourself with pleasing God and less about pleasing people, you will be much happier. God will reward you for the good things you do with a good heart.

'5.Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free.'- Ephesians 6 5-8

People pleasing can often lead you down the wrong path. This is often the case in elementary and high schools. Kids may give into peer pressure to please their friends or associates and land in the principal's office or jail.

When you do good things for people, do not brag about them because your bragging is your reward.  But, if you do good things in secret, the Lord will reward you.

'Take heed that ye do not  your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2.Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 
4. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret in himself shall reward thee openly." - Matthew 6:1-4

I challenge you to (whole heartedly) do something nice for someone. Don't tell anyone about your good deed. Watch for the reward that you will get from Him. I also challenge you to live for the Lord. This may not always be an easy task, but with Him we can do anything.

'I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.'- Philippians 4:13

I pray this post blesses someone :-).