Flying Purple People Pleaser

Do you remember that song from long ago (showing my age here) about the one-eyed one horn flying purple people eater?  There really isn't anything that great about the song except that, as a kid, its fun to say one-eyed one horn flying purple people eater :-)  I found some awesome pics of these mythical creatures, but being as they have horns and eat people they all looked pretty demonic and I didn't think it necessary to post that kind of pic.  Just use your imagination!

Anyway, I was studying Galatians with my Ironmen lifegroup and when I came to Galatians 1:10,  I stopped to think....here is what the verse says:

Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.  If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. (NLT)

Most believers know, or at least have been taught, that to be a follower of Christ is to stand out from the world.  What I mean is, most people know believers are supposed to be different in some way than those who do not yet believe that Jesus is the risen savior.  But is it obvious to everyone that you serve Christ?  Paul says, "OBVIOUSLY, Im not trying to win the approval of people, but of God".

People pleasing, aka fear of man, used to be such a problem for me.  I was a flying purple people pleaser.  As an insurance agent, I thought I needed to please everyone.  If someone got mad at me, they might move their business elsewhere and I would lose that income and referral source.  To some extent, I did need to try my best to take care of my customers, but it was my motives that I needed to watch.  Pleasing the customer should not be my motive as a follower of Christ, but pleasing God should.  It just so happens that treating people with love, honor, and respect is pleasing to God.

When I became a pastor, I found it easy to slip into people pleasing mode because there is nothing worse than having people at your church mad at you.  I dreaded emails that had subjects like "some thoughts" or "concerns".  I knew right away what those emails contained, and right away fear would come over me!  Why was I afraid? Because I was worried about what they thought of me.  I wanted to please them, and I wanted to avoid conflict.  Paul's words resonate with me more now than ever.  I am not to please man, but to please God and it should be OBVIOUS.  That doesn't mean to treat people harshly.  That would not please God.  It does mean to stand on the truth of God's Word even if it offends someone.  You see, God's Word does not need to be defended.  It stands on its own, and it sharper than any two-edged sword and can take out any sort of flying purple people eaters!  May it be obvious in your life that you are a servant of Christ!