What made Paul such a great Christian, and someone who serves as a wonderful example for us to follow? One thing is how closely he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). We could refer to many different areas where Paul had the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), but, for the sake of this blog, I will only refer to one—his main goal in life was to please God. His desire was not to be popular with man, but to do the will of his heavenly Father. In writing to the churches of Galatia, he put this in the form of a question.
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The brethren knew the answer to Paul’s question by the life that he lived and the message that he preached. His preaching was not popular in all circles. There was a considerable number of Judaizing teachers among the churches of Galatia that were not very complimentary toward Paul, and they were giving the churches trouble by preaching a watered-down version of the gospel that included the necessity of being circumcised. How did Paul respond? He did so with some of the most powerful words of all his epistles.
Galatians 1:6-9 (ESV)
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
These were not the words of a man worried about the opinion of men. Paul not only refuted the false teachers who were presenting a perverted gospel to the brethren, but he repeated himself in order to make his message clear. Furthermore, he admonished the rest of the brethren for so easily giving in to the Judaizing teachers. Not a popular move, but one that would please God.
Paul knew he could not be a servant of Christ while trying to please men. Sadly, many over the years have failed to gain such knowledge.
John 12:42-43 (ESV)
42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
We should all ask ourselves the question, “Do I seek to please men or God?” Are our decisions in life based on how we think man feels or, like Paul, based on a desire to please God? If we think of ourselves as servants of Christ, let us act like it every day. Everything we do, from the language that we use, the clothes that we wear, even the company that we keep, should be based on a desire to please our Master—Jesus Christ. Paul was a great Christian because he knew who his Master was and strove to please Him, not men. If we have failed to do the same, let’s determine to do better, starting now.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.