The Burning Bush Vol 9 No 2.pmd - Far Eastern Bible College

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The Burning Bush 9/2 (July 2003)
any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I
know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take
me away” (Job 32:21-22). “As for me, is my complaint to man?” (Job
21:4). “Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be
the servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10). “But with me it is a very small thing
that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment” (1 Cor 4:3). “If any
man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be my disciple” (Lk 14:26). “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for
my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven” (Matt 5:11-12). “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers” (Eph 6:6;
Col 3:22). “So we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our
hearts” (1 Thess 2:4). These passages express explicitly that it is against
Scripture that we should indulge in inordinate man-pleasing, give respect
to man more than they deserve, and exalt man higher than they should be
placed.
Let us be ever watchful that we do not fall into the sin of idolising
man. One who pleases man does not take God into account and therefore
makes it his business to satisfy man. Remember that it is a dangerous sin
to gain favour from and seek to please man. Let not this sin prevail
against us from pleasing God which is our business and duty in this life.
“Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of
man” (Eccl 12:13). Therefore watch against the sin of man-pleasing as we
would guard against any other earthly things which do tempt us to idolise
them and cause us to neglect our love and devotion to God.
Pr Tan Kian Sing is pastoring Berean Bible-Presbyterian Church.
The above article was originally published in the Berean Banner of
March 2, 2003.