Really?!? **if you read nothing in this post, please at least read the letter at the bottom**

Paul sure does sound like a people pleaser to me.

Have you read 1 Corinthians 10 lately?  Yeah, I hadn't either till recent.

Has anyone ever told you, "You shouldn't be a people pleaser," or "You're such a people pleaser!"
Yeah, I've heard that a lot, maybe not always directed towards me, but it's the word on the street.

After reading 1 Cor. 10 (& other parts of the bible) I'm starting to differ on the "people pleaser" mentality.

**Mind you, I am not/nor do I claim to be a bible scholar. It may seem that I am taking these line out of context, but the principle behind it is where my thoughts went. So take what you will with a grain of salt.

Read these lines & tell me what they say to you.

• 1 Corinthians 10:24 - Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 
• 1 Corinthians 10:31-33a - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God---even as I try to please everybody in every way. 
• 1 Corinthians 10:33b - For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so they may be saved.  11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 

People pleaser?

OK Paul, your saying I should not seek my own good...ever? AND do whatever I can to please people?

I think if Paul were here and I was able to ask him these questions, he would blatantly say, Yes. He then might nod his head towards me, look up with all seriousness in his eyes and ask this question back at me: "Who [pause] exactly did you say you follow again?"     


Christ. I said I follow Christ. [thinking: is this a trick question?]

{again with all seriousness in his eyes}: "What example did I say I follow?"


Christ. You said you follow Christ. 

So [pause] Paul, your saying people pleasing is a good thing?

{with all sincereness and love}: "I'm saying [pause], what did Jesus do?"

Gosh we are stupid smart people. We I clearly have trouble grasping the cross of Christ. Least I do.
[[God knew my intelligence wasn't so wise, hence the cross. I need him]]

HE DIED.  THAT is Paul's example. How am I suppose to follow that!? 

Is that really who Paul is following? Someone who blesses his enemies by dying for them? Yes. 
Yikes! I don't even know if my friends would do that for me let alone my ENEMIES!  Thank goodness someone stepped up to the plate and carried it all for us. Seriously.
Romans10:4 - Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

That's pretty selfless and might tip the scales of people pleasing if you ask me. Yet, I plow through life as if people owe me; as if they should love me. But Christ's example is that I should love you. 

I'm working on it. I promise. Give me grace please.  :)

And so it continues....

Love.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rom. 12:14

Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. Rom. 12:17

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Rom. 12:19b

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom. 12:21

....But the greatest of these is love. Cor. 13b

After reading these passages, I'm inspired to become the people pleaser Christ was. 

How can we love greater? 

Lord help us get this. 

This might inspire you. 

Just as I finished writing this post Kevin (ironically) asked if he could read me an email that he received today. It's from a student he helped (while working at Liberty) who had little faith that she could succeed in school after recovering from a brain injury. Some of my take from this email is that what we do does matter and that we have the opportunity to influence people; either for good or evil, better or for worse. 

In this case it was for better: 

Kevin -
Guess what?!!!  I just completed my graduation request form!!!  Praise Jesus Forever!  He is soooo incredible!  I can't tell you how many times I felt like giving up - but He would never let me.  I just finished re-taking the one class from that not so nice prof and get this - I have an A (the prof makes a big diff).  So I have all B's and ~5 A's - not bad for a brain injury survivor!  Thank you, thank you a million for helping me with so many things, Kevin.  Your rewards are huge in Heaven, but may God bless you immensely on earth as well.

I will continue taking classes as it has helped my memory so much.  I no longer leave the oven or stove on for 12 hours at a time or leave the vehicle running.  I do still lock myself out of the house a lot - but what can you do (but hide a key - lol). 

Take care, my friend and I thank you for everything!

In Him,
Sharon


*PS -Sharon is graduating with her MBA from Liberty.

[e]Nough said.