www.cg: The Men Pleasers

THE MEN PLEASERS

by Richard Burkard

Joseph Tkach Sr. had a good idea during his years as Worldwide Church of God Pastor-General, when he said "examining yourself" should be more than an annual occurrence. He suggested believers use the Sabbath week by week to reflect on how they're doing spiritually, and whether any growth is there.

Let's suppose someone gave you and your congregation a pop quiz along those lines one Sabbath. If a speaker asked, "Have you tried to please God this past week?" could you honestly raise your hand and say you did? Hopefully you could, as God's Spirit works in your life and reflects Jesus to others. (If you couldn't and you're a Christian, it may be time for that spiritual self-exam.)

Now suppose the speaker asked a second question: "Have you tried to please men this past week?" Could you raise your hand and say you did? Would you want to do that in public -- or would you consider it a spiritual "trick question," and slide your hands between your thighs and your seat?

If you're not sure about the right way to answer that question, I don't blame you. The concept of "pleasing men" can bring two responses to the mind of a Christian. Either "YES, I please men because that's how I please God!" - or "NO, I don't please men because God's Word told me not to!"

Which one of these approaches is correct -- or could they both possibly be right? The argument seems to boil down to two statements Paul made to different New Testament churches, which seem to contradict each other:

I Corinthians 10:33 - "....Even as I try to please everybody in every way."

Galatians 1:10 - "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Will Paul puhleese (no pun intended) make up his mind? Before you shake your head and turn away not only from these verses, but the entire Bible, consider a few things:

1. THE CONTEXT - In both of these verses, Paul is writing about preaching the Gospel.

Why does Paul try to please everybody? The last part of I Corinthians 10:33 explains: "I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."

Galatians 1:10 is surrounded by verses where Paul warned people against turning to a different gospel (v. 6-9). "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up" (v. 11)

Later in the New Testament, Paul explains this further: "....We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God...." (I Thes. 2:4) "Since his gospel is neither.... 'according to men, not according to human nature,' it does not please men, but requires their thorough repentance...." (Interpreter's Bible, vol. 10, pg. 453)

2. WHOM WE SHOULD PLEASE - Paul's focus in I Corinthians 10 is on pleasing others, as opposed to pleasing himself. He notes elsewhere this approach follows the example of Jesus: "....Bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please this neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself...." (Rom. 15:1-3)

Have you ever stopped to consider where the concept of "pleasing man" began? It has roots in the days of the Old Testament kings. King Rehoboam asked two groups of counselors about how to handle the demands of Israel's population. The elders suggested, "If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants." (II Chron. 10:7) If the King pleased his subjects, all would go well in the land. "BUT Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him..." (v. 8) The result: a troublesome split into two countries.

The lesson here seems to be more than listening to elders above peer groups. There's also a deeper message, about pleasing people as opposed to making them angry.

Overlooked in the discussion about pleasing God and pleasing man is a passage near the end of the book of Hebrews. This letter, apparently written to Christian believers, says: "....Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Heb. 13:16) What normal-thinking person would not want someone to do good for him, and share items with him? This indicates pleasing men actually pleases God!

(In fact, the word "share" comes from the familiar Greek word koinonia - or communion. In this case, it's a partnership with each other in the blessings God has given.)

One other New Testament passage needs to be addressed concerning the pleasing of men. Paul states it in a similar way in several epistles, concerning how to be a servant: "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." (Eph. 6:6, KJV; see also Col. 3:22; Tit. 2:9; II Tim. 2:4) This was written to people who were not only servants, but slaves -- in an era and location where that was acceptable. And notice Paul's issue is about the sincerity of service, more than whether a worker should try to please men or not.

Does this short study surprise you? Does it reassure you? The answer may depend on which of the top two verses we mentioned you emphasized. The bottom line seems to be: if you're in an interpersonal relationship, pleasing men is fine - whether it be on the job, with your neighbors or in public office. But when it comes to the Gospel, pleasing God must take priority - even if the message does not always please men. After all, that message could lead to conviction, repentance and conversion - which pleases God most of all.

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