Rob Witham

Many of us act as though we have a lot in common with a Labrador Retriever. Of course, some people act like they have a lot in common with other less friendly dog breeds (I’m certain none of my readers fit in this category though…). Labradors (in all of their colors) are just wonderful dogs. I had a Black Lab for many years and my brother now has a Chocolate Lab/Shepherd mix. My next dog will probably be a Yellow Lab. Labs have a personality that makes them just turn inside out at the prospect of pleasing people. Labs love nothing more than making people happy.

Too often we end up acting the same way - only without the joy. We spend far too much time and effort attempting to placate and please those around us rather than the One we should be concerned with pleasing.

Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Pleasing people will get us in trouble every time - not to mention the fact that we will always come up short. Loving people is not the same as trying to please them. We still cannot serve two masters - whether the other master be money or people.

Our calling is to please God and to seek God’s approval. Being a servant of Christ will put us at odds with other people from time to time. Jesus promised us this much.

Now, if we could just channel the energy that we put into pleasing people and apply that energy toward pleasing God….