Pleasing and Pleasers

Articles

Philip C. Strong
08/27/24 - Discipleship

To be “pleasing” (as usually translated in the NT from the Greek words arestos, euarestos) is to be “acceptable” or “agreeable” (cf. Acts 12:3 where Herod saw that beheading James “pleased” the Jews, and thus arrested Peter also). It is to occasion feelings of joy, happiness, or contentment. Most people, though they may differ widely in what “pleases” them, understand the basics what the word means. Additionally, most likewise comprehend that to be “pleasing” typically requires both intent and action. In other words, someone decides to adopt dispositions and take actions that they hope will be “pleasing” to the one they desire to “please.” However, it is the object of the effort where significant potential problems come into play. Consider, for instance that...

One can try to “please” self. This is the primary object for most of us. While such may be somewhat natural, and there may be nothing particularly wrong with it in general, this can easily devolve into self-centeredness, selfishness, and even narcissism. Certainly these traits and dispositions will quickly destroy ALL our relationships, and make an idol of “self” to be worshipped and served above all others. As Phil.3:18-19 warns, it will also make us an enemy of “the cross of Christ,” and spawn a shameful devotion to “earthly” (rather than “spiritual/heavenly”) things.

One can try to “please” specific others. As in the previous point, a desire to “please” a specific someone else is not necessarily a bad thing. Every spouse should try please their mate by putting them first (over self), Eph.5:22-31; 1Pet.3:1-12. No one can practice true agape “love” without such desire, intent, and practice (note 1Cor.13:4-8a, especially v.5, “does not seek its own”). Additionally, servants/employees should seek to “please” those for whom they labor; not a “men-pleasers,” or those who feign devotion “when the boss is looking,” but with “sincerity of heart” for such not only pleases “the boss” but also God, cf. Eph.6:6; Col.3:2-24.

One can try “please” generally everyone. Then there are also those who constantly seek to please everyone, and generally wind up destroying themselves in one way or another. Certainly we can and should be pleasant, gracious, kind, and even agreeable (up to a point), but cannot afford to attempt to please everyone to the extent of displeasing God, cf. Acts 4:19-20; 5:29!

Whether our desires, intents, and actions are to “please” ourselves or others specifically or in general, if/when they become excessive and/or displace and displease God, they please Satan. You see, the master deceiver doesn’t have to attain our devotion and worship directly if he can just get us overly concerned with “pleasing” ourselves or others rather than God.

So, have you allowed your desires to “please” yourself or others to supersede your desire to please God? Have you been so interested in pleasing self or others that you even failed to investigate and “learn what is pleasing to the Lord,” Eph.5:10? Often, we become so enamored with what pleases “me/others” that we just expect God to be pleased with what pleases “me.” It seems to be non-accidental that 2Cor.5:10, which speaks of eternal judgment, follows “Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent from the body, to be pleasing to Him” in 2Cor.5:9.

Stop and think: who or whom are you really seeking to “please”? Choose wisely, my friends, choose wisely.