Many people live their lives, myself included, to gain the acceptance of others. We all want commended. I think someone who says, “I don’t care what others think” is either lying or not telling the truth. We all care. No one escapes that.
The difference though is how much emphasis one puts on that. There is nothing wrong with wanting acceptance. But how much do crave it? I’ll admit paralysis when I struggled with acceptance or rejection by people. I often did or did not do something based on how people felt about me. I was crippled as a pastor because of it.
I read Psalm37 this morning during my Quiet Time. Probably one of, if not my favorite passage in the Bible. I noticed something today which speaks to this whole “acceptance thing.”
- Verse 3: “Trust in the Lord.”
- Verse 4: “Delight yourself in the Lord.”
- Verse 5: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him.”
- Verse 7: “Be still before the Lord.”
Not one of those verses says anything about man. No “trust in man.” No “delight yourself in man.” No “Commit your way to man; trust in man.” No “Be still before man.” I think there’s a reason for that. I am not to live for men or the approval of men; I am to live for and the approval of the Father. I’ll not please everybody. EVER. My life, my decisions, my choices should not be made with men’s acceptance in mind but God’s.
“Father, I’m accepted by You. But more than that is that it matters not what others think. Help me to live, make decisions, and choices with you in mind. Help me to live in such a way that your approval matters. Help me not to be offensive to others but help me not to live for their approval.”
Great post this morning… And I agree with your opening paragraph… I think we all desire approval or acceptance in some way. Every social media platform I am aware of provides a way for those who post to get feedback on their post. Even blogging to a certain degree. We all want to see the “like” the “thumbs up” the “heart”. Why is that? The Psalm you referenced… I think says it all. I shouldn’t be in it for the crowd pleasing… I should do it for the sole purpose of pointing to God.
Notice I said should… as I said before… and I should probably have a shirt made…
“Work in Progress… Under Construction.”
Your prayer hits it as well… I shouldn’t try to be offensive to others, though… truth can offend… I shouldn’t be using it as a sledgehammer to crush stone, but rather a small delicate hammer slowly tapping a nail into a fine piece of furniture that I have covered with a cloth of love to avoid damaging the surface. This will allow the truth to penetrate without smashing someone to pieces. I’ll stop now… Great post, great thoughts!
Appreciate your thoughts Ryan. it is a fine line sometimes, I think, between acceptance and approval of others and craving it. I want people to like what I have to say about Jesus. but it can be done kindly. Jesus compares evangelism to sowing seeds not swinging swords.
Yes, we all want to be accepted and loved by others, but that should never be our highest goal, as we will always be disappointed. There is no way to please all the people all the time. On the other hand, if we live to please God, submitting to Him in obedience, our life will be transformed in the long run for the good of all.
Blessings, Bill!
Correct Martha. It should not be our highest goal. Pleasing God is.