Approval

Galatians 1:6-10

Are you driven by a need to please people? I’ve met many who are. It’s hard to be honest and open with others if you are constantly worried about keeping them happy.

I’ve met a lot of pastor’s who are driven by this need to please everyone. Most burn out and don’t last long in ministry. It can be exhausting to try and keep everyone pleased. And, as we all know, it’s also impossible.

Paul had a message for the Galatians. It was such an important message that he could not worry about how they would respond. He loved them (and they knew that) and had earned the right to speak into their lives. So, he wasn’t going to mix words. He needed to break the hold the Judaizers had over them.

It’s funny, I’ve met people who think it’s okay to offend others. As long as they are “speaking the truth”, who cares about how others take it. Often they will quote the last paragraph of today’s passage as a way of defending their attitude.

But, as I already mentioned, Paul had earned the right to speak strongly into the lives of the Galatians. After all, he was their “spiritual father”, the one who had originally brought them the message of grace. He had risked his life for them. They knew it. They valued Paul as a major influence in their spiritual journey.

I think that’s a good model to follow. Only after you have earned the right to really challenge someone should you do so. Only after you have given sacrificially of your time, energy and love should you feel comfortable in correcting or challenging someone else.

I am very comfortable in challenging the members of Bikers’ Church. Why? Because they know I love them (Hey, I love you guys! I really do!). They know I’ve sacrificed for them. They know I would give anything for them. I’m much more cautious with other Christians I may encounter. I just don’t feel I’ve earned the right to challenge them the same way.

I think the same goes for those who don’t consider themselves Christ followers. Before I challenge their thinking in a certain area, I need to build a relationship with them. I need to give of myself to them. I need to demonstrate my love for them.

Approval. It’s a funny thing. I must live my life driven by God’s approval (which I have) rather than the approval of others. At the same time, I should strive to demonstrate my love for others in order to speak into their life.

It’s a bit of a balancing act, isn’t it?

Until tomorrow.