People Pleasers

By Richard (Dick) Innes, Daily Encounter Tuesday, October 02, 2007

"In the temple courts he [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!'"1

Of one thing we can be certain: Jesus was not a "people pleaser." The reality is that "people pleasers" inevitably end up getting frustrated and angry because they are not getting the response they want from trying to please everybody, and ultimately end up pleasing nobody.

It isn't possible to please everybody. When we try to, we do it out of our own need for approval—an empty substitute for love. As one person said, "If you have to stand on your head to make others happy, all you can expect to get is a big headache."

Or as another put it, "If you stand for something you will have some people for you and some against you. But if you stand for nothing, you will have nobody against you—and nobody for you."

As already noted, Jesus was not a "people pleaser." He stood for truth and right regardless of what anybody thought of him. May God help you and me to do the same.

"Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to find inner security both in your love and that of others so I will not be searching for love in trying to please others. Deliver me from this bondage. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jesus (John 2:14-16, NIV).

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