I remember watching “Leave it to Beaver” as a kid and the one character that stood out, other than the Beaver was Eddie Haskell. He was quite the charmer and deceiver. When he was with Wally he was a mischievous instigator. But, when he was around the adults, especially Mrs. Cleaver, he was the perfect complimentary gentleman. Now, everyone was up to his “game” but Eddie continued to pour on the charm to get his way.

“³For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, ⁴but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ⁶Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 (ESV)

Paul wrote to those at Thessalonica and early in his letter addressed the lack of deception from he, Silvanus, and Timothy. He pointed out that they could have demanded the “royal” treatment and could have taken advantage of the situation to pad their own pockets, yet they did not. They were there simply to spread the gospel and bring opportunity of salvation to all.

Now I know that “Leave it to Beaver” was just a make believe show and Eddie Haskell was just a character, but how many “Eddie’s” do I know in the world. How many bring one thing to me and then turn right around and bring something else to others, all in the name of getting something out of it for themselves.

I have to be careful in talking about this, for I do believe that we should adapt to those we interact in order to have an effective and efficient interaction. Mirror the other person in order to help them feel comfortable and open up. But, that is not the license to deceive them into doing something that only benefits me. I have to come from a place of authenticity so as to build them up so that they are able to grow. And all of this in the interest of pleasing God, not myself.

It is my duty to help others, but not with a mindset of pleasing myself. I am called to serve others, but not build myself up. When I have in my mind to please God and my actions are geared to that end, I find myself bringing goodness and service to all without looking out for what I my get in return. Eddie Haskell I am not and I have to prove my authentic caring, serving, and loving self each day with the object being to please God.

How many Eddie Haskell personalities do you know? When you look at yourself, what actions do you take that might confuse others? Are you in it for your pleasure and to get something or are you there to please God?

I am one that believes you get what you are due based on the work that you do. I do not feel as though we are due something just for existing or showing up. Society it seems, based on what I see and experience, believe that we are “owed” something for just being there.

This passage gave me some trouble this morning and only after reading the commentary and moving some things around was I able to put things together. Only taking one view of something may not provide the proper perspective for our understanding and therefor I have to take a look at multiple angles. On a regular basis as I read and study, I find myself taking this similar approach to gain understanding and this morning it certainly provided that view for me.

“¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10-9 (ESV)

Yes, I put the verses in reverse order. And I did it for a reason. Paul indicates that “we make it our aim to please him”. My question is, why? And verse 10 provides that answer as I am looking this morning. So why not reverse them and provide the why before the action.

We are to “appear before the judgment seat of Christ”, so why not prepare for that appearance with our pleasing of Him. We receive what is due and the due based on our actions, and therefore shouldn’t my actions be directed to please Him.

I am accountable for the actions that I take and in order to get something in return, I am required to do the work. My purpose is to please the LORD and when I take that on and do the actions needed to realize my purpose, my time at “the judgment seat of Christ” will be rewarded based on those actions.

When you look at what you receive, are you getting without giving? Are you looking for the reward without taking the actions? What if you were to please God based on the anticipation of going “before the judgment seat of Christ”?

I have been instructed to please the LORD and doing so God will provide for my needs. In addition to the obvious choice of Jesus as my example, I should also do as Paul instructed those to which he wrote letters.

“³²Give not offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, ³³just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. ¹Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 10:32 – 11:1 (ESV)

Paul did not concern himself with his own circumstances as was evident of his being imprisoned for doing nothing. Even in his most dire of circumstances, Paul was lifting others up so they would be rewarded. In doing so, Paul was rewarded in heaven and even in this world. We study his letters and instructions to the people knowing that they are of God.

I get bogged down in looking for the reward in the world today where I should be more concerned with building others up so they can get their rewards. I should be looking to imitate the life of Paul and the way he concerned himself with others even as he suffered for them as he did. What can I do to be sure that others are taken care of well before myself?

I think that is it. What you say is it? I should take care of others before myself. I should not be concerned with winning the race. I should not concern myself with leading the pack. I should be working each day to aid others in their search and quest for reaching the pinnacle. I should be working to please others and not concern myself with how I will be rewarded. I will be rewarded, much like Paul, in heaven.

How much do you concern yourself with victory? Do you find yourself putting your own reward over that of those around you? What if you were to please others and not concern yourself with your own reward?

I find myself dealing with a fair amount of anxiety each passing day. Have I done enough? Have I been a good father? Have I been a good husband? Am I doing well enough in my work?

As I read the questions above that I ask myself, I do not see one that is driven toward my anxiety toward my relationship with the LORD. Do I have anxiety about that relationship? Am I concerned with it? What should I be feeling?

“³²I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. ³³But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, ³⁴and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. ³⁵I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (ESV)

Paul lays it out in the verses above. I should be free from anxiety. I should simply devote myself to the Lord. In doing so, I will be free from any anxiety that might rear up. With my focus on pleasing the LORD, I will not allow the world to bother me. I will not have to concern myself with whether or not I am a good father, husband, worker. I am good enough.

I have been given the gift of salvation and with that gift, I am free from the shackles of this world and should only be living for the LORD and my inheritance He provides. I have to free myself from the worry of the day to day and drive myself to “undivided devotion to the Lord”. My purpose is to please the LORD.

What about you, are you worried about your standing in this world? Is your anxiety driven by the standards of those around you? What if you only gave your “undivided devotion to the Lord” and lived your purpose to please Him?

“³For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.’” – Romans 15:3 (ESV)

We are to be the example of Christ and in doing so, we are to avoid pleasing ourselves and serve others first. I see in the verse above that Christ did not concern Himself with that which impacted Him, He was interested in caring for me and the difficulties I experience.

This passage is titled “The Example of Christ” in my English Standard Version Bible. And boy is it telling me how to be the example of Christ.

“¹We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ²Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” – Romans 15:1-2 (ESV)

I look back at my yesterday and in doing so, I break it down to determine, Was I an example of Christ today? Was I setting our to serve and please my neighbors? What my answer to those questions is between me and God, but I can say that my eyes are opened to that answer when I take the time to ask the questions.

I am to be the example of Christ in all that I do, and pleasing my neighbor before and in most cases, in substitution of myself is the way to get there. I look back at Romans 12:9-20 and study again the “Marks of the True Christian” and find that others are where my focus should lie. And I can see here that Paul is true to those verses in giving me the example of Christ in Romans 15:1-7.

When you look at yesterday, were you thinking of others before yourself? Did you work to please your neighbors before, and in most cases, in substitution of yourself? What are the answers to the questions surrounding the pleasing of your neighbors?

“⁸Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” – Romans 8:8

Nine words that are so very powerful. I cannot please God, which is my purpose, if I am living according to the flesh. I have to live according to the Spirit to achieve my purpose.

“⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” – Romans 8:5 (ESV)

I am to set my mind on that which is pleasing to God in order to live according to the Spirit, and when I do, I will be in a place and frame of mind that is pleasing to God. Remember that praising Him with song and thanksgiving are the ways to please the LORD (Psalm 69:30). It is not the monetary or overt acts for everyone to “see” that please Him. It is the little things and those that are rooted in the Spirit that give grand pleasure to the LORD.

My time here in the mornings, studying His Word in the mind of growth and learning and leaning on the Spirit set my mind on the Spirit and therefore am in a position to please the LORD. I have to find more moments like this each day to please the LORD with my mind on the Spirit.

Are you looking for opportunities to set your mind on the Spirit? Are you setting yourself up for the chances to please the LORD? Are you in the Spirit to please the LORD?

It should go without saying it, but our purpose is to please the LORD. I know, it is a simple concept, although I believe it is lost in the hustle and bustle of our world today.

“⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” – Proverbs 16:7 (ESV)

As I study the word “please” I was brought to this verse that I have marked in my bible. As I reviewed my studies from the past 4 years, I did not find where I had written on the verse, yet my scribble “Our purpose is to please the LORD” written in the margin is so profound and fitting for me today.

I am thankful that I have a LORD to please. A living God that walked/walks with me daily. I have a heavenly Father who loves my unconditionally and wants nothing but the best for me. I should want and desire and take action to please Him at every turn. I am to be His just as He is mine each day, and as small child looks at his/her father for guidance and acceptance and validation, I should be looking to Him for the same.

Those same small children look to please their parents at every turn, and I should be doing the same with my heavenly Father. Please Him as He continues to take ultimate care of me. Please Him and as written in verse 7 above, God “makes even his enemies to be at peace with him”.

As you go through your days, what is your approach to God? Are you willing to please Him? Are you aware that “Our purpose is to please the LORD”?

I look out into the world and wonder how it is that I can please the LORD in the state we are currently in. It is pretty simple.

“³⁰I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. ³¹This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.” – Psalm 69:30-31 (ESV)

I do not have to do a bunch of grand gestures or take overtly major action. God only wants me to praise Him in song and be thankful for the blessings He provides for me.

I have to remember that I am a child of God and as such He only wants me to be as a child with Him. I should be learning and growing, acting and doing, praising and thanking His name and in His name. No more or less is required of me. God wants me to be His in every sense of the and for that He will continue to teach me and provide for me.

Pleasing God is my ultimate goal and although it seams as though it is a difficult thing in which to complete, when I look at what is required to meet that goal, it is not a daunting as I once thought it to be.

As you look at your ultimate goal, is it in line with pleasing God? Are you having a difficult time figuring out how to please God? Did you know that it is as simple as praising Him and being thankful?

“¹³You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.” – Exodus 15:13 (ESV)

Back in May of 2018 I was led to the same passage as I was studying the word “guided” and was fed a deeper understanding of the tense that is used in scripture as the ESV uses the past tense to say that the Lord has guided and the NIV use the future tense to say that the Lord will guide. Whereas there seems to be some contradiction in scripture based on the version, I believe they both to be true and valid.

For this morning I was brought to the same passage as I study the word “redeemed” and what stands out as I look back on my previous study is that regardless of whether God guided or will guide, the fact remains that it is His redeemed being referred to.

I am so glad that He chose me to be redeemed. I am a sinner and certainly do not deserve the mercy, grace, and redemption He heaps on me. But, God loves me for who I am and has taken me to be His own child and for that I am eternally grateful. I am redeemed by the blood of Christ as He died on the cross for me, and God guides me to where He would have me go.

Are you taking what you have studied before and using it in your study today? What are your thoughts on being redeemed by Christ? Are you even aware that God is guiding those that He has redeemed?

I am consistently presented with the idea that I am really no one in this world. I am passionate about the work that I do and my mission and values are centered around being a servant and caring for others before myself. Because I am not self aggrandizing I am not given the credit for the work that I am responsible for as others take my credit for themselves and I am treated as though I was a part of the team that pulled it off.

In the eyes of God the above could not be further from the truth.

“¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. ¹⁵Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” – Titus 2:11-15 (ESV)

I have been trained to walk away from those thing that are not of God and as noted at the end of verse 15 I am to “Let no one disregard you.” I am someone in the eyes of God. I have been redeemed to be someone and for that I should celebrate daily. Those that are set in their ways of aggrandizing themselves, I should let them, although make sure that I know my part. For God is on my side and has redeemed me.

I am human and have emotions and of course want to be recognized for the work I do. I deserve to be treated with respect and treated fairly in the world around me. But, I should not look for my validation from the world. My redemption and validation comes from God. I was redeemed to be someone in the eyes of Him.

How much are you dependent on the approval of others? What things have you done that you may feel as though you were slighted on related to credit? Are you aware that the approval from the world does not matter as you were redeemed to be someone by God?