The Folly of People-Pleasing

SCRIPTURE: Jer. 38:4,5; Jer. 38:8-10
⁴ Then the officials said to the king, “This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.” ⁵ “He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you.”

⁸ Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him, ⁹ “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” ¹⁰ Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

OBSERVATION: These scriptures are only two of several examples of the cowardice of Zedekiah, king of Judah. What a wimp! He is afraid to say "no" to anyone. He has the authority of the kingship at his disposal but it does him no good because he blows with the wind of public opinion. He won't take a firm stand. As a result, he suffers personally and the people under his leadership (or lack thereof) suffer as well.

APPLICATION: It is absolute folly to think I can be liked by everyone. The only person I need to be concerned about pleasing is God. Trying to please other people only leads to frustration because it is an impossible task. I would only end up losing the respect of those I am trying to please, and even worse, I would lose God's protection and a close relationship with Him.

PRAYER: Father, I have struggled for much of my life with insecurities that make me prone to being a people-pleaser. Free me from all such desires. They are destructive at the highest level. May my only desire be to please You. Thank You for being a steadfast God who I can count on at all times. In Jesus' Name, Amen.