THE APPROVAL OF MEN? BY STEVE FINNELL
Is it possible to seek the approval of men and be an effective servant of Christ? To go with the flow works well unless there is a waterfall at the end of the river. Then the ride can get a little bumpy.
Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
The apostle Paul said if I were "still" trying to please men. Obviously while Paul was a Pharisee he was trying to please men.
Do men today continue in their denominations to please friends and relatives?
John 12:42-43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Are there those today who know in their heart that Jesus was correct when He said "has been baptized shall be saved," but will not confess it because they fear being ostracized by church members, friends and relatives?
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know the friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
If we have friendship with the world, then we get their approval. Is that approval worth becoming an enemy of God?
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
If all believers and the world speak well of you, do you think you might want to reconsider your life style, as well as your faith?
2 Timothy 4:2-3 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
If men do not like what the Bible teaches, they will find people who will teach what meets their approval.
We sometimes think that speaking the truth in love means that we should water down the gospel, compromise the requirements for salvation, accept the sins of the world or simply offer excuses for sin.
CAN YOU SEEK THE APPROVAL OF MEN AND STILL SERVE CHRIST?
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know the friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
If we have friendship with the world, then we get their approval. Is that approval worth becoming an enemy of God?
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
If all believers and the world speak well of you, do you think you might want to reconsider your life style, as well as your faith?
2 Timothy 4:2-3 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
If men do not like what the Bible teaches, they will find people who will teach what meets their approval.
We sometimes think that speaking the truth in love means that we should water down the gospel, compromise the requirements for salvation, accept the sins of the world or simply offer excuses for sin.
CAN YOU SEEK THE APPROVAL OF MEN AND STILL SERVE CHRIST?
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