An old man put his little grandson on the donkey and walked to town. Someone stopped and said that child is selfish making the old man walk. So the old man got on the donkey and let his grandchild walk. A few minutes later someone said how cruel that the old man is riding a donkey and making his young grandson walk. So the old man put the child on the back of the donkey with him. A little while later someone came by and said that poor donkey carrying that load. A little while later they walked into town with the donkey on their back!
I find myself trying to please my family during the holidays. I genuinely want my family to have the perfect special occasion but I have learned that I cannot please everyone. Trying to please everyone is a recipe for stress, misery and frustration. Because we are sinful and human, people will always have a reason to criticize and judge us. We are going to sin. Even if we get to a place where everyone respects us, we then have to stay there which is even harder than getting there in the first place.
If we are in Christ, It doesn’t matter what others say about us and it doesn't matter if we don’t live up to the expectations of other people. We have God's full unhinged, unqualified love and that is all we need! Our value doesn’t come from anyone other than God, and God has stated definitively that he values us. We are His children. Romans 5: 8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
If we think we are trying to please people ask this question that the Bible gives us. Galatians 1: 10, "Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ." If we belong to Christ, He should be our top priority! Want to make life simple? You only have to please the Lord, the one who made you and has a purpose for your life.
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