Based on Acts 25:1-12 (New King James Version)
“Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. ‘Therefore,’ he said, ‘let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.’ And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.’ But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?’ So Paul said, ‘I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.’ Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!’”
Everyone looks for someone’s approval on the things they do. When we are very young, our tendency is to value our parents’ approval, or the approval of some close family members. As a person gets a little older, they start to care about the opinion of friends. When going through the academic years as students, it is a part of the system to have some sort of approval from those teaching. If you don’t do what they say, you won’t go far. If people get involved with sports or extra-curricular activities, then the opinions of those in leadership or teammates start to matter. Should a person go to college or start working somewhere, then they seek the approval of peers, professors, employers, etc. If a person decides to enter into a relationship, then the other person’s opinion matters. The more successful we want to be, the more people we may need to please because of the extensive amount of relationships that we intend to keep. There are family relationships, work relationships, career relationships, etc. Whether we want to admit it or not, or whether we realize it or not, we are all subject to someone’s approval; or rather, subject to a large group of people and their approval. It can be an endless network of opinions and approvals we may need to maintain just to subsist in life.
For instance, the United States is in the middle of the election process for its next president. I do not envy the position the potential candidates are in. No matter how you look at it, they have to win the hearts of millions of people with different interests, goals, objectives, and concerns. Along with those millions of people, they are under the scrutiny of endless amounts of reporters, television stations, radio stations, social media, etc. Every word that comes out of their mouth; every gesture they make; every single thing they do will make national news. And it will be judged by millions; including friends and enemies. What they do or say will either help them or destroy them. They will either be hated, loved, or inspire some sort of feeling in the middle. And together with all of that, they have to somehow try to maintain all of their existing close relationships as well, including their family relationships. It is truly unbelievable when you think about it.
Having said all of that, where does God fit in? For some people, God does not enter their minds. For others, God is something somewhat important. And realistically speaking, there are only a select few that really care about what God has to say. Within all things mentioned above, most people look to please or worry about the opinion of other people, or their own self-formulated opinion of themselves. You doubt that? Just look around.
The Lord taught this to those that intend to truly follow Him: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:16-33.
Paul’s priority was to please God. Paul was more concerned about God’s opinion and approval than that of politicians, religious people, family, etc. Paul ultimately died for his faith; caring more about what God thought about him than what people thought about him. The price for God’s favor was a great one (cost him his life). But he believed that it was better to please God than others.
So, do you care more about the opinion people may have of you, those who are as limited as you are; or are you more concerned with what God thinks about you and His approval, even though that may make you unpopular and even undesirable to many? Whose reward do you want? Lord bless! John