Are you a people pleaser? Do you care that people like you? Does it bother you if people don’t like you? People-pleasing can be a technique to feel that we belong, gain influence, or get others to fix a problem for us. Let’s get started!
Read Exodus 32:1. Why were the people concerned? What did they want Aaron to do for them? What did they say about Moses?
With Moses out of sight and out of mind, they reverted to their old idol worship ways. While Moses was on the mountain with God, He gave Aaron the authority in his absence. Continue reading Exodus 32:2-6. The Israelites did not know how to live a life of faith and trust in God regardless of who their leader was. Aaron appeased the crowd by giving them what they asked for. He made them an idol. In doing this, he aided them in breaking God’s first commandment. So how judgy are we of Aaron right now? Let’s take a look inside ourselves.
Are you a people – pleaser? From a 1 is a no, between a 2-3 is a rare, 4-5 depends, 6-7 – struggle to say “no” or not cave, to an 8- 10 being I rarely assert my opinions or wishes. Who do you feel pressured to make happy? When do you feel like you can’t be honest about how you’re feeling? Has your people-pleasing behavior ever enabled another’s bad/sinful choices? What is the difference between being a people-pleaser and someone who wants to show unconditional love and serve selfishly?
Read Ephesians 4:15. When we speak the “truth in love,” how does that transform us spiritually? How often do we twist this verse? You know, when we are disgraceful towards other people. For example, what people wear to church. What benefit do we experience as believers when we actually tell people the truth in love? We become more like Jesus. When we don’t speak in love, we are becoming less like Christ. How can we know that we are speaking the truth in love? What are some of the indicators? We need to watch out for one another! What does Galatians 6:1 say about this? Why is it important for believers to address sin in one another’s lives? It should lead us to maturity.
We have some steps to do to overcome being a people-pleasing person. First, we need to pray. We need to ask God where we need to speak the truth. Next would be to practice. We need to practice what we would say to the person in love. We need to let go of being a people pleaser. The third would be to listen to God’s prompting on what to say. Fourth, we need to partner with a friend who will be praying with you in this area of your life. Last we need to let go of the outcome. We need to surrender this to God and let Him be in control.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that we will search our hearts and minds for any people-pleasing tendencies that we may have in our life. Please reveal in our life what needs to change.
In Jesus Name
Amen
