Pleasing God Rather Than Men

Christians cannot be slaves to public opinion, for we have a greater Master to serve. Today, R.C. Sproul rallies us to devote our lives to the approval of God, not men.

Let me turn your attention to what Paul writes to the Ephesians in 6:5. Here, he’s giving instructions to people in antiquity who were, in fact, bondservants. But the message that he gives to the bondservants applies to every servant of Christ. Listen to what he says. “Finally, bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart as to Christ.” He’s telling people who are slaves to do their service before their owners as if they were serving Christ.

Now, listen to this, please listen to this. “Not with eyeservice as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” I would say the greatest weakness in the church today is that the servants of God keep looking over their shoulder for the approval of men. As soon as we are slaves to human opinion, public opinion, trying to please human beings instead of God, as soon as that happens, the message of Christ will be compromised. No one preaches the whole counsel of God who is a man-pleaser, and so I charge you before God to keep your eyes on Christ and not on the judges of this world.