A "man-pleaser" is a term used to describe an individual who seeks to gain favor or approval from people rather than prioritizing the will and approval of God. This concept is addressed in various passages of the Bible, highlighting the spiritual dangers and moral compromises associated with prioritizing human approval over divine obedience.

Biblical References:

1. Galatians 1:10 · The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of seeking human approval in his letter to the Galatians: "Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Here, Paul emphasizes that being a servant of Christ requires prioritizing God's approval over that of humans.

2. Ephesians 6:6 · In his instructions to slaves, Paul writes, "And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart." This verse underscores the importance of sincerity in service, suggesting that actions should be motivated by a desire to fulfill God's will rather than merely to impress others.

3. Colossians 3:22 · Similarly, Paul advises, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord." This instruction reinforces the idea that one's ultimate accountability is to God, not to human authorities.

Theological Implications:

The concept of being a man-pleaser is often contrasted with the call to be a God-pleaser. The Bible warns against the temptation to conform to worldly standards or to seek validation from others at the expense of one's faithfulness to God. This is seen as a form of idolatry, where the opinions and expectations of people take precedence over God's commands and desires.

Moral and Spiritual Dangers:

1. Compromise of Faith: Seeking to please people can lead to compromising one's beliefs and values. This is particularly evident when societal norms or peer pressures conflict with biblical teachings.

2. Fear of Man: Proverbs 29:25 states, "The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high." The fear of human disapproval can trap individuals in a cycle of anxiety and prevent them from living out their faith boldly.

3. Loss of Integrity: A man-pleaser may engage in deceit or hypocrisy to maintain a favorable image, which ultimately undermines personal integrity and witness.

Examples in Scripture:

· King Saul: In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul disobeys God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. When confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul admits, "I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them." (1 Samuel 15:24) Saul's desire to please the people led to his downfall and rejection by God.

· Peter's Hypocrisy: In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul recounts how Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers out of fear of criticism from the circumcision group. This act of hypocrisy was a result of prioritizing human approval over the truth of the Gospel.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to examine their motives and ensure that their actions are driven by a desire to honor God rather than to gain human approval. This involves cultivating a fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and seeking to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him above all else.

Ephesians vi. 8-May
... slavery also willingly. The man-pleaser then is no servant of Christ. The
servant of Christ is not a man-pleaser. (Galatians 1:10 ...
/.../homily xxii ephesians vi 8-may.htm

Do not Save Me from Martyrdom.
... martyrdom. For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser,
[831] but as pleasing God, even as also ye please Him. For ...
/.../ignatius/the epistle of ignatius to the romans/chapter ii do not save me.htm

The Preacher's Cry --Pray for Us!
... He was no coward, or time-server, or man-pleaser, but he needed prayer, in order
that he might not, through any kind of timidity, fail to declare the whole ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/x the preachers crypray for.htm

Matt. xxii. 34-36.
... For thou indeed desirest that he should call thee the merciful man; but he will
not call thee this, but the vainglorious, the man-pleaser, and other names far ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxi matt xxii 34-36.htm

On Baptism.
... But there is perhaps among you some hypocrite, a man-pleaser, and one who makes
a pretence of piety, but believes not from the heart; having the hypocrisy of ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture iii on baptism.htm

Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
... Not a man-pleaser, but a God-server; not a flatterer, nor covetous, nor yet seeking
glory, nor courting authority, like the Rabbis. What then? ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 11 jewish views on.htm

"Bought with a Price"
... The best Christian is the man who is not afraid of hard work when it is due, who
works not as an eye-servant or man pleaser, but in singleness of heart seeks ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/bought with a price.htm

A Peal of Bells
... Let the servant, not with eye-service, as a man pleaser, serve her master, and let
the master take care that he giveth unto his servant that which is just and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/a peal of bells.htm

Christ's Estimate of his People
... when thou sawest the iniquity of this great city; I saw there when thine hands were
busy, I saw that thou west not an eye-servant or a man-pleaser, but that in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/christs estimate of his people.htm

How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the ...
... mild, without guile, without falsehood; not rigid, not insolent, not severe, not
arrogant, not unmerciful, not puffed up, not a man-pleaser, not timorous, not ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii how the bishop is.htm

Man-pleaser (1 Occurrence)
Man-pleaser. Manoah's, Man-pleaser. Man's . Multi-Version Concordance
Man-pleaser (1 Occurrence). Galatians 1:10 For ...
/m/man-pleaser.htm - 6k

Man's (347 Occurrences)
... aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser,
I should not be Christ's bondservant. (WEY). Galatians 1 ...
/m/man's.htm - 35k

Manoah's (1 Occurrence)

/m/manoah's.htm - 6k

Bondservant (34 Occurrences)
... aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser,
I should not be Christ's bondservant. (WEY). Galatians 4 ...
/b/bondservant.htm - 16k

Bond-servant (14 Occurrences)
... aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser,
I should not be Christ's bondservant. (See NAS). Philippians ...
/b/bond-servant.htm - 10k

Aspire (2 Occurrences)
... aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser,
I should not be Christ's bondservant. (WEY). 1 Thessalonians ...
/a/aspire.htm - 7k

Favour (171 Occurrences)
... aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser,
I should not be Christ's bondservant. (WEY). Ephesians 1 ...
/f/favour.htm - 37k

Christ's (64 Occurrences)
... to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser, I should
not be Christ's bondservant. (WEY DBY YLT). Galatians ...
/c/christ's.htm - 24k

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