Acts 12:3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter.
‘People Pleasing’ is a ‘mind game’ that lures a person into a vicious cycle and strips away their self-worth, self-respect and values. “There is something very addictive about people pleasing. It’s a thought pattern and a habit that feels really really good until it becomes desperate” – Anne Hathaway. The goals, views and visions of a ‘people pleaser’ are marred and soiled as their only focus is on pleasing people!
The formula in the mind of people pleaser is to gain popularity, stability and security by keeping the influential people around them happy. The acceptance and approval of people fuels their performance. A people pleaser esteems the influence of humans in authority above the power of God. A challenging situation of choosing between ‘what is right’ and ‘what will please the crowd’ will reveal the truth if a person is a people pleaser or a servant of God.
King Herod Agrippa was the one who killed James and imprisoned Peter, also intending to murder him, as it pleased the Jews. Herod was a converted Jew who governed Judea and was favorable to the Jews. Herod Agrippa went to Caesarea to inaugurate the games for Caesar and he gave an astounding speech. According to Josephus the Jewish historian, he was wearing clothes made of silver that glowed in the sunlight and made him appear like the Phoenician sun-god. The crowd went ballistic at his oratory skills of the glistening people pleasing ruler and shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last (Acts 12:22-23). The praises from the audience fed the appetite of Herod and puffed him with pride. Josephus in his account says that Herod Agrippa immediately suffered abdominal pains and died in about five days. It is believed that the angel stuck him and he died of maggots in his gut and kidneys.
Renewing the Mind:
1. Values: Always hold on to godly principles and values above the opinions of people. Disapproval of people is only temporary pain but standing for our core values will store treasures in heaven.
2. Virtue: The longer we are caught in the cycle of pleasing people, the deeper we will get into the rut. When the mind is controlled by the fear of displeasing people, slow down and choose virtue over short-term comfort.
3. Vicious: Pleasing people is a snare or a trap that will toss and tumble us into the vicious cycle of destruction. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe (Proverbs 29:25).
“Healthy mind is the key to a healthy man”.
Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, make me bold and stout-hearted to choose what is right and virtuous. Help me not to get into the trap of pleasing people. Amen.
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