Pleasing Man
I learned quite early in my ministry to stop trying to please people.
The first church I was at thought their style was contemporary…until I showed up. There were many who loved the new music I was introducing, and there were many who loved the hymns. I would get complaints fairly consistently that there were either too many hymns or not enough. I spent so much of my time trying to ride the fence. Yet no matter how hard I tried to make people happy there was always someone who was not happy. Then one day as I was planning a service and it dawned on me (thanks Holy Spirit) I don’t work for these people, what we do on sunday mornings isn’t even for them it’s for God. From that moment on my main goal was to orchestrate a service that would please God. Once I made that decision I began to see fewer and fewer complaints. Partially because people found out that their complaints weren’t affecting my decisions, but mostly because our worship to God became great in his eyes because the focus was on pleasing Him.
1You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
I Thessalonians 2
Please God not man. You can never please all men, but you can please God.