God-Pleaser -- NOT Man-pleaserCollated by Paul QuekDedicated to those who were once-upon-a-time man-pleasers rather than
God-pleasers -- until they found the Truth! Adapted from http://www.astudyofgod.com/teaching_in_psalms.shtml:-- Even though Paul uses "to the which also you are called in one body" Colossians 3:15 (NIV) -- "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you
were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15 (KJV) -- "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." but this phrase relates not to the assembly on Sunday, but as one body of Christ operating outside that worshipping day or outside the walls of organized religion. Even though many really follow their local church in all these things, God really is telling us that we are one body even during the week: outside the walls of the church building. This notion that only the leadership and "the gathering together" in the only work of God and a place for us to work (local church building), is really an unscrpitural approach to the "whatsoever you do in word or deed" attitude or spirit of scripture. The problem is that most people do not operate outside the church in respect to the helping of one another or even to all men (1 Peter 2:17, 1 Timothy 4:10). 1 Peter 2:17 (NIV) -- "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God,
honor the king." 1 Timothy 4:10 (NIV) -- "(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." For some reason we have to get the permission of the leadership just to go to a gathering or to help others. It is almost as if when we get saved, we give up our free-will and become servants of the church leadership (pleasers of men), instead of a servant of God. And this really is not a godly way to run you life before God. I believe one of the greatest dangers in the church today is that we have "men-pleasers"(Colossians 3:22) in charge and in the body, instead of God pleasers. Colossians 3:22 (NIV) -- "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when
their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and
reverence for the Lord." Colossians 3:22 (KJV) -- "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;" Paul was not a man-pleaser ...
-- From http://www.astudyofgod.com/teaching_in_psalms.shtml (adapted) Return Home: Paul's Website Index page -- spirituality Contents page -- paul's e-scrapbook |