People Pleasing

An ancient fable tells of a man, a boy and a donkey. A man and his son were leading their donkey to market when someone passed and remarked how foolish they were to have a donkey and not ride it.

The boy mounted the donkey, but the next person who passed commented on what a wicked son that would force his poor father to walk. So the father got on the donkey, but the next traveler they passed wondered why a father would treat his son so cruelly.

So both got on the donkey, only to be rebuked by the following person they met, who said, "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours—you and your hulking son?

There was but one thing to do. Father and son entered the town carrying the donkey on their shoulders.

Aesop ended the fable saying, "Please all, and you will please none."

It's hard not to worry about what others think or say about us. However, we can't let that control our lives, especially our spiritual lives. In the New Testament, we read this sad statement: "Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:42–43).

They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. That describes a lot of people, doesn't it? Hopefully, it doesn't describe you or me.

We need to be willing to put our faith in God, even when it's not popular to do so. We need to be willing to stand up for what's right, no matter what others may say. We need to seek the glory that comes from God rather than the praise of men.

If you need help overcoming your need to please others, I'd love to talk with you about it. Go to our website at www.hopeforlife.org and leave a comment, or e-mail me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org.