What does the Bible say about men pleasers?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible warns against living to win human approval, calling believers instead to fear God, obey Christ, and serve others sincerely from the heart. Paul asks in Galatians 1:10 whether he seeks to please man or God, teaching that a servant of Christ cannot make popular opinion his master. Acts 5:29 establishes the priority of obeying God over men. Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:22 urge workers to serve faithfully, not merely with eye-service as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ. Jeremiah 17:5 cautions against trusting in man, while Romans 12:2 calls Christians not to be conformed to this world. God sees the heart, even when people praise outward appearances, as Luke 16:15 reminds us.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Galatians 1:10 11 votes
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ.
- Acts 5:29 7 votes
But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
- Ephesians 6:5-9 5 votes
[5] Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ; [6] not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; [7] with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; [8] knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free. [9] You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
- Colossians 3:22 3 votes
Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
- Jeremiah 17:5 3 votes
Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.
- Romans 12:2 3 votes
Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- Luke 16:15 2 votes
He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
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