Whom Do You Serve?

It's not a trick question. It's actually a very important one that we all need to ask ourselves every once in a while. I found myself having to ask myself the very same question today. And it wasn't easy to listen to the answer!

Plus, it's a tough one - particularly if you consider yourself to be selfless. If you'd like to think that helping others is right at the centre of what you do.

Because the selfless person runs the risk of pleasing people more than pleasing God.

I'm not just saying this to be self-deprecating. It's simply a case of clear vision. And of trying to be content with God’s own assurance of me, of us.

It's all tied up with the concept of working out how you are shaped.  It's in knowing that God has wired each of us in a certain way, and you can use it for good.

If God has gifted you with uplifting words, then use it to build up others, by encouraging. If you are good with your hands, then use it to build things, to repair things.

However, central to everything must be your relationship with God. If not, then you're only trying to please people. And, trust me, only a small minority will ever be grateful, will ever respond.

If you have "people-pleasing" as your goal, you're not really thinking of serving other people. Instead, you’re thinking of how to get them to like you. And you'll be let down.

So, turn this around. Don't think about pleasing others, think about serving others.

Joshua 24:15 (The Message)
“If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve — and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshipped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”