Seek God’s approval, Not People’s approval

Proverbs 29:25 NLT “Fearing people is a dangerous trap.”

If your goal in life is to have the approval of people, you will never really feel secure, because the time will come when you do something they disapprove of; then what? The Bible says, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” (Proverbs 29: 25 NLT). A trap is just another word for a prison. If someone other than God can determine your worth as a person, that someone can make you feel like a prisoner anytime they decide to. When a critic’s opinion becomes your own opinion, you are living in a prison of your own making. The reality is, some of the people you are trying so hard to impress will never be impressed. Knowing that enables you to work alongside people without allowing yourself to be controlled by their moods and governed by their opinions. Each time Paul went to another town, people were meeting and hearing him for the first time. Some of them liked him, and some did not. He writes, “For some say, ‘Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!’” (2 Corinthians 10:10 NLT). So how did Paul handle this? He writes, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Galatians 1:10 NLT). In order to feel secure in life and fulfilled in what God has called you to do, you must reach the place where you can be confident that you are loved and approved by God, and that is what matters!