Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue. They loved human approval rather than the approval of God.—John 12:42-43 GNT
Seeking approval is a strange thing that can keep a person in bondage if care is not taken. Most of us can relate to this growing up, especially as students or young people. To be accepted into a group you deem special, you would run unnecessary errands to gain approval. Most of the time, these errands were ones you’re not proud of.
However, sadly, as adults we may still find ourselves in the same predicament, doing things we are not happy with just to gain someone else’s approval.
In today’s passage, that was exactly what was happening to some of the Jewish authorities. They believed in Jesus but couldn’t openly declare it because of the Pharisees; they preferred human approval more than God’s. Jesus referenced human approval a few times because he understood how easy and comfortable it can feel to do things the human way rather than God’s way.
“If you are ashamed of me and of my teaching, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26 (GNT)
As believers, we can relate to the Jewish authorities. There are times we have been timid or afraid to share our faith in public, with colleagues or neighbours, because we fear being labelled and excluded from their “good” books.
As Christians, we succumb to people’s approval every time we look the other way and fail to speak up against injustice. Or we fail to stand up for someone being mistreated either in the community or at work, just because we don’t want to be perceived differently. When you join in activities that are against the will of God and/or your conscience, just because you don’t want to be labelled for your faith, that is seeking man’s approval.
“Those who declare publicly that they belong to me, I will do the same for them before my Father in heaven. But those who reject me publicly, I will reject before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32 -33 (GNT)
Seeking human approval can also happen in church. For example, when you don’t want to be associated with a certain group of people because of what others might say. Peter did something similar in the early church:
“But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong. Before some men who had been sent by James arrived there, Peter had been eating with the Gentile believers. But after these men arrived, he drew back and would not eat with the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who were in favor of circumcising them.” Galatians 2:11-12 (GNT)
We all need to examine ourselves, not just today, but from time to time: whose approval are we seeking, God’s or man’s? Would you prefer to remain in man’s good books or in God’s?
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 