“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, ESV)
Approval is a powerful force. It shapes decisions, molds identities, and influences the way people see themselves. Human nature has always been drawn toward affirmation. The world measures worth by likes, followers, and public recognition. This is not new. The pull toward external validation has been part of the human condition since the beginning. What has changed is the reach and immediacy of that validation.
The digital age rewards visibility. Those who gain attention are elevated, and those who remain unseen feel left behind. Social media platforms reinforce this pattern by training users to seek constant affirmation. A post that generates engagement feels like success, while one that goes unnoticed can feel like failure. This cycle creates a subtle but powerful shift in the heart. People learn to shape their words, their choices, and even their beliefs based on what will gain the most approval.
Paul confronted this problem head-on. His opponents in Galatia accused him of shifting his message to gain followers. They suggested he altered his teaching depending on his audience, preaching circumcision to the Jews and freedom from the Law to the Gentiles. They painted him as a people-pleaser, a man driven by public opinion rather than divine truth. Paul’s response was direct. He declared that if his goal were to please people, he would not be a servant of Christ. The call to follow Jesus demands an undivided heart. No one can serve two masters.
Jesus warned against practicing righteousness for public display. He spoke of those who gave to the poor, prayed, and fasted in ways that drew attention to themselves. Their actions were not about honoring God but about securing admiration. He made it clear that they had already received their reward—the applause of people. But those who live for the approval of God seek a different reward. (Matthew 6:1-6)
The contrast could not be sharper. The pursuit of human approval is fleeting. It forces people to constantly perform, to adjust, to present an image rather than live in truth. But those who seek God’s approval live with a different perspective. Their worth is not defined by reactions or recognition but by the reality of being known and loved by their Creator.
Jesus called His disciples to a different kind of life. He told them that following Him would not lead to status or admiration but to a cross. The path of discipleship is not about gaining visibility but about surrender. It is not about being celebrated but about serving. When Jesus said, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” He revealed a truth that stands in opposition to the values of the world. (Luke 9:23-24)
The gospel is not a product to be marketed. It is not shaped by public opinion. It does not require popularity to be true. Paul knew this, which is why he refused to compromise. He had spent years seeking human approval in his former life, striving for status among the Pharisees, persecuting the church to prove his zeal. But when he encountered Christ, that pursuit ended. His mission was no longer to be well-regarded but to be faithful.
The challenge for disciples today is no different. The world rewards those who seek validation from others. It invites people to measure their worth by their influence. But Jesus calls His followers to measure their lives by a different standard. The question is not how many people approve but whether God is pleased.
A servant of Christ cannot be divided. The pursuit of public affirmation leads away from faithfulness, but a heart set on God will stand firm. The call to discipleship in the digital age is a call to resist the temptation to seek validation from people and anchor identity in God’s unchanging approval.
~PW 🌮🛶
Phillip W. Martin 
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