Finding Your Way In Christ

When People are Big and God is Small

Friday, June 22nd, 2012. By Hannah.

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We did this awesome teaching in my youth group and I just wanted to share some stuff from it with you :)

    Do you put people ahead of God? Do you try to please people more than God? Do you care what people think about you? Do you try to be someone else to fit in with a group of people? Do you sin and disobey God to be accepted by others? If you do, then you are making people bigger in your life than God.

    Galatians 1:10 says "Am I trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I still trying to win the approval of men? If I were trying to win the approval of men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ." It's hard, but we can't worry about what people will say when we tell them about Jesus. We cannot be people pleasers and God pleasers. If we are a friend of the world, we are an enemy of God. If you know that you're pleasing God with what you're doing, then you really shouldn't fear anyone. 

    Here are a few examples of people who try so hard to win the approval of other people:

    Sophie asks Emma if she wants to spend the night at her house. Emma is already spending the night with Carly, but she doesn't want to disappoint Sophie. Emma wants to please both Sophie and Carly, so she lies, and tells Sophie that she's free to sleep over. Now, apparently, Emma is going to find a way to spend the night with Sophie and Carly so she doesn't disappoint anyone. See? Sometimes we lie so we can gain the approval of people, which is clearly not what God wants.

         Sarah stands in front of her closet, and can't decide what shoes to wear. Anna always wears flip-flops, so maybe Anna would like her if Sarah wore them, too. But, Megan loves converse. Maybe if Sarah wore converse, Megan would accept her. Sarah finally decides on flip-flops. Anna isn't at school, so now Sarah feels depressed. Now, Megan won't like her because she's not wearing converse, and Anna won't ever see her awesome flip-flops. But do Anna and Megan really care what shoes Sarah wears? This is another example of someone who lives for other people's approval, instead of living to please the Lord. Who cares what people think!!! Let's relentlessly pursue God, and let's share His incredible love with others.

     Is it easier to go on a missions trip to Peru and tell someone about Jesus? Or, is it easier to go to school, and tell your friends about Jesus at lunch? Honestly, you're probably never going to see that guy from Peru again. You're going to see your friends at school everyday. Why is it so hard to tell people about Jesus at school? Are we afraid of rejection? Are we afraid of being made fun of? Are we afraid of being labeled as the nerdy, narrow-minded, church kid who won't shut up about Jesus? If we are, then we are afraid of people. We make people bigger in our lives than God. I know that myself, and everyone, can grow in this area of being bold, and having confidence in God. What man should I fear? What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6-9) 

    Try to make God big, and people small in your life. When you put all your trust in people, they're going to let you down. People aren't perfect; they aren't God. Let's put our trust in God and let's have confidence in Him. God won't let us down when we put our trust in Him. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you're living to please people, or God.

   Do you live for the approval of other people?

   Do you put others down so you'll feel better about yourself?

   Do you put all your trust in other people?

   Do you care about what other people will think if you preach the gospel?

   Do you live for compliments from other people?

     If you answered yes to some of these questions, then you might have the problem of making people bigger in your life than God. Living for compliments from other people is one that I struggle with. I play sports and sometimes I just live to hear a compliment from my coach. It's great to encourage others, but lets not live for encouragement from others, but lets live to please our Father. Colossians 3:23 talks about working hard and cheerfully in everything we do for GOD, NOT for other men. In everything we do, lets give the glory to God!  Father, I pray that you will help us not to fear people any longer. I pray that you will help us to live for you, and not for others. Amen!

        The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. –Proverbs 29:25