People Pleasing

I love the way Jesus spoke, it's just so different than the world, both then and especially now.

In Luke 6:24-26, Jesus spoke of four "woes." The term "woe" is a mourning sound uttered in response to anguish or prompted by suffering. Jesus says "woe" to the rich, "woe" to those who are full, and "woe" to those who are laughing. The second and third "woes" simply contrast the second and third blessings. However, it’s the fourth "woe" I want to focus on. Jesus said "Woe to you when all people speak well of you for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets."

Once again this is completely opposite of what the world and organizations teach. This fourth “woe” goes to all who seek the acceptance and admiration of godless people. This does not mean that Christian’s are to be obnoxious or offensive. Christians are to lead quiet and morally respectable lives and to “live their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Christians are to demonstrate love by their words, but most importantly by their actions. Christians are to speak truth and live by truth, no matter how different that might be from their environment.

Jesus warned against people-pleasing. If a follower’s perspective on God, morality, spirituality, and the ways of the world doesn’t ruffle some non-Christian’s feathers, there’s something terribly wrong with that follower’s Christianity. It’s possible such a person has compromised the message of Christ or watered down the gospel for the sake of social or political gain.

 

Woe to that Person!

 

Don’t forget how different Jesus was from the world.