MAY 15

Ephesians 6:5-8
Memorise Ephesians 6:7
"...if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

I remember a rebuke that I once received for being too self-conscious. A brother told me that this stemmed from the sin of pride and being a man-pleaser. For example, by refusing to lead in singspiration because I was “scared” or “shy”, I was actually worrying more about how I looked in the eyes of others, and not focusing on how I could bring glory to God by serving Him. I was afraid that I would embarrass myself in front of others, and so gave up an opportunity to serve and glorify God.

In today’s reading, Paul reminds us to remember that all our service should be done “as to the Lord, and not to men”. How absurd to focus so much on what others think and perceive, when the One we are serving is “God, which trieth our hearts” (I Thessalonians 2:4). God is the One who knows our hidden motives, and who will ultimately reveal them in the last day. Yet, so often, we find ourselves falling into this very sin. We serve to please others or ourselves, rather than to please God. We serve only at our own convenience, rather than giving all our time and energy to God. We worry so much about what others think of us, forgetting to even consider how we appear in God’s eyes. We strive to make sure that others are impressed by our service, when in fact God is not in the least pleased.

Dear teen, have you been serving with the right motives? The next time you are given a chance to serve, ask yourself: Am I truly doing this “as to the Lord”? Or are there ulterior motives? Am I trying to impress someone else? Would I still serve even if not a single person notices or appreciates me? Conversely, if you reject an opportunity to serve, ask yourself: What is preventing me from service? Am I worried about what others will think about me? Is it because it is not “glamorous” enough?

Thought: We serve only to please God, not men.
Prayer: Lord, help me never to be a man-pleaser, but only a God-pleaser!