“Living for God’s Approval”

If you've ever found yourself second-guessing a decision, rehearsing a conversation in your head, or losing sleep wondering what someone else thinks of you… you're not alone. Maybe it’s the coworker who gave you a strange look after a meeting. Maybe it’s the friend who left your text unread. Or maybe—just maybe—you’ve been haunted by the unspoken pressure to be someone you’re not, just to gain a little more approval from someone who may not even be paying attention.

It shows up in different ways, doesn’t it?

For some, it’s in the digital world—every like, comment, and follower feels like a vote of confidence or a slap in the face. You post something, and then you check it… again… and again… just to see how it’s doing. It’s exhausting. But even if you’ve never had a social media account, don’t think you’re off the hook. This isn’t just an online issue—it’s a human one.

Maybe you work hard every day, and still wonder if your boss notices. Or you try to parent your kids well, but you’re secretly afraid of being judged by your neighbors. Maybe you’re the person who always says yes—even when you’re overwhelmed—just to avoid letting people down. You live with this constant weight of needing to be enough for everyone.

And it’s not just pressure. It’s bondage.

We’re chasing something we can’t ever seem to catch: the approval of people.

And the truth is, sometimes it’s not even people we like. Sometimes, it’s people we don’t even respect. But we still let them define how we feel about ourselves.

So here's the question I want us to wrestle with this morning: Who am I really trying to please? When I make decisions, when I speak, when I serve—whose opinion is shaping my life?

Because if we can’t answer that question honestly, we’ll live our whole lives chasing the applause of man… and miss the approval of God.

Here’s the painful reality: Living for the approval of people will always let you down.

And some of you know that better than anyone. Because you’ve tried. You’ve worked yourself to the bone to gain someone’s respect—and still felt invisible. You’ve bitten your tongue, kept the peace, played the part, smiled through disappointment… all to earn someone’s approval, only to be ignored, misunderstood, or criticized anyway.

It’s like running on a treadmill that never stops. You keep moving, but you’re never really going anywhere.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Because there’s something deep in us that longs to be affirmed. To be seen. To be known. To be told, “You’re doing well. You matter. You’re enough.” And when we can’t seem to hear that from God, we’ll settle for hearing it from anyone who’ll offer it—even if we have to twist ourselves into knots to get it.

But the pursuit of people’s approval doesn’t just wear us out—it warps us. It changes us.

You start making decisions not because they’re right, but because they’ll be popular. You start holding back the truth—not because you don’t believe it—but because you’re afraid of how someone might respond. You say yes when you need to say no. You stay quiet when you should speak up. You begin to lose who you are, because you’re so busy trying to be who others want you to be.

And here’s the worst part: It’s never enough. You can’t please everybody. And even when you do, it’s temporary. People change. Their expectations shift. Their approval fades.

And somewhere along the way, you begin to realize you’ve traded something eternal for something fleeting. You’ve sought the applause of man… and silenced the voice of God.

So let me ask you again—really ask you—Whose approval are you living for?

Because until we answer that question honestly… until we deal with that hunger for approval at the root… we’ll never walk in the freedom God intends for us. But if we can get this right—if we can re-center our lives around God’s approval—it can change everything.

Let’s see what Scripture says.

Living for the approval of people pulls us away from serving Christ

Paul opens this verse with a penetrating question: Galatians 1:10a “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?”

He’s not being coy. He’s not making small talk. Paul is putting a mirror in front of the Galatians—and in front of us. And his next words are even stronger: Galatians 1:10b “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Let that sink in: you cannot live for the approval of people and serve Christ at the same time.

Now why would Paul say that? Because he knows how deeply the hunger for human approval can shape our decisions, our relationships, even our convictions. And he knows what’s at stake when we chase it.

Paul is writing this letter because the Galatians were being led astray by false teachers—men who were trying to blend the gospel of Jesus with the old Jewish system of law and religious performance. Why? Because it made the message more acceptable. Less offensive. More palatable to people. It sounded spiritual, but it was empty.

Paul says, “That’s not the gospel.” And if he were still in the business of trying to please people, he wouldn’t be standing so firmly in the truth. If he were worried about being liked, accepted, or applauded—he’d be silent. He’d be safe. He’d be enslaved to the opinions of others. But he’s not. Because you can’t reflect Christ to a watching world if you're constantly bending to its demands. Let me point out two warnings about bending to the world’s demands and an encouragement:

You Can’t Serve Two Masters

Let’s not miss what Paul is saying here. When you live for the approval of people, it doesn’t just distract you—it disqualifies you from fully serving Christ. It splits your loyalty. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters,” and Paul echoes that same truth here.

When your heart is wrapped up in pleasing others—whether it's your boss, your friends, your peers, even your church family—you begin filtering your obedience to Christ through what they might think. You compromise. You delay. You soften. And eventually, your service to Jesus is half-hearted at best.

Serving Christ means full surrender. It means trusting his voice over every other voice. It means being willing to obey even when it’s unpopular, even when it costs something, even when people misunderstand you.

That’s what Paul did. And church, that’s what we’re called to do, too.

People-Pleasing Is a Subtle Slavery

Let’s get practical. Most of us wouldn’t say out loud, “I’m trying to please everyone.” But let’s be honest—how many of our decisions are shaped by the fear of what someone else might think?

You hold back your faith at work because you don’t want to be labeled “too religious.”

You don’t speak up in a family conversation because you’re afraid of conflict.

You overcommit your schedule, running yourself ragged, just because you can’t stand the thought of disappointing someone.

You laugh at something you know you shouldn’t, just to fit in.

You keep silent in your church when God has called you to step up and lead, serve, or speak.

These aren’t small things. They’re symptoms of spiritual misalignment. And every time we allow the fear of man to lead us, we take a step away from the freedom and clarity of serving Christ.

It’s subtle. It’s socially acceptable. But it’s dangerous.

Paul knew this danger firsthand. Before Christ, he was a rising star in the Pharisee world. Respected. Feared. Admired. But when Jesus saved him, he walked away from it all. And when he began preaching the gospel, he was beaten, imprisoned, rejected, misunderstood, and hated. If Paul had been seeking human approval, he would have quit on day one.

But he didn’t. Why? Because he had found something better.

God’s Approval > Man’s Applause

Here’s what Paul knew, and what we need to remember: The applause of man is loud, but it fades. The approval of God is often quiet, but it lasts forever.

You might win people’s praise for a moment. But it won’t satisfy your soul. It won’t anchor your identity. It won’t sustain you when life gets hard. It’s like trying to build a house on shifting sand.

But the approval of God—rooted in the finished work of Christ—is solid ground. It doesn’t rise and fall with your performance. It doesn’t depend on popularity or polish. It’s based on grace.

And when you know you are fully approved by God—not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done—you are finally free.

Free to speak the truth.

Free to say no when you need to.

Free to love without fear.

Free to serve without striving.

Free to live with peace and confidence, even when the crowd turns against you.

Paul knew that. And he lived it. He said, “I am not trying to please man. I am a servant of Christ.”

And that’s the invitation for us today: to stop living for the ever-changing approval of people and start living in the unchanging approval of God.

But here’s the thing—if you’re going to live for God’s approval instead of man’s, something inside of you has to shift. It’s not just about behavior—it’s about identity.

Because you’ll never stop chasing applause until you’re secure in who you are. And Paul knew that, too.

So now, let’s go deeper into this verse. Let’s talk about what it means to find your identity in God's approval—and how that changes the way you live, love, and serve.

Living for God’s Approval Secures Your Identity

Let’s look once more at Galatians 1:10.

Paul makes something very clear here: there is a deep connection between approval and identity. This verse is not just about who we aim to please—it’s about who we believe we are. Because at the core of it, the one whose approval you seek is the one you allow to define you.

And Paul says plainly: “I’m not trying to please man. I am a servant of Christ.” That word servant—in the original Greek, doulos—is a powerful identity word. It means bondservant or slave. It’s not a role Paul plays for an hour on Sunday. It’s who he is. It’s a permanent position. He doesn’t toggle between identities—he belongs to Jesus. That’s the truest thing about him.

And here’s the point: When you know who you belong to, you stop letting the world tell you who you are.

Approval and Identity Are Tied Together

This is something our world is completely confused about. We live in a culture obsessed with identity, but one that keeps trying to build it out of sand.

People try to find identity in achievements—“I’m what I do.”

In appearance—“I’m how I look.”

In acceptance—“I’m how many people like me.”

In status—“I’m what I have.”

In relationships—“I’m who I’m with.”

But none of those things can hold the weight of identity. Why? Because all of them are fragile. All of them change. And all of them demand that you keep proving yourself.

The problem is, when your identity is built on people’s approval, then every criticism becomes a crisis. Every disagreement becomes a threat. Every unreturned text, every sideways comment, every missed compliment can shake the core of who you are.

But Paul shows us a better way.

Paul’s Confidence Was in His Calling

Think about who’s writing this. Paul was once a rising star in the Jewish religious world. Pharisee of Pharisees. Respected. Feared. Admired. And he threw it all away the moment he met Jesus.

He lost status. He lost friends. He lost his position, his security, his comfort. But he gained something far greater: a new identity. He was no longer defined by public opinion—he was defined by divine calling. And that’s the shift that needs to happen in our lives, too.

If you want to be free from people-pleasing, it won’t come by trying harder. You won’t beat insecurity by just telling yourself, “I don’t care what people think.” That’s a band-aid. It won’t last. What you need is a deeper foundation. You need to know—deep down—who you are and whose you are.

When you know that God, in Christ, has already approved of you, loved you, called you, and sealed you—When you know that he sees you, knows you, and still chooses you— You stop trying to get everyone else to fill a role only he can fill.

Identity Rooted in Christ Brings Stability

When your identity is in Christ, here’s what you gain:

You gain peace. You’re not anxious about what others think, because you know what God thinks—and that’s enough.

You gain clarity. You’re not tossed by the latest opinion or trend. You have a clear anchor in God’s Word and his purposes.

You gain courage. You don’t shrink back from truth out of fear of rejection. You stand in love, because your worth isn’t on the line.

You gain humility. You’re not trying to impress or outdo anyone, because you’ve got nothing to prove and nothing to hide.

And that kind of identity changes everything.

Maybe you're here today and you're tired. Not physically—but emotionally. Spiritually. You're tired of trying to be someone for everyone. You're tired of the pressure to be enough. You're tired of measuring yourself by someone else's standard.

Hear me clearly:

You don’t have to keep striving.

You don’t have to keep performing.

You don’t have to keep pretending.

The gospel says that your approval was purchased—not by your effort, but by Christ's sacrifice. At the cross, Jesus took the full weight of your sin, your insecurity, your striving, and he declared, “It is finished.” And when you placed your faith in him, the Father said over you what he said over Jesus: “This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”

Not because of your track record. Not because of your perfection. But because you are in Christ.

And that identity is secure. Paul says, “I would not be a servant of Christ” if he were still trying to please man. But because he isn’t seeking man’s approval anymore, he is free to serve Christ.

That’s the irony of gospel identity. When you stop living for people’s approval, you don’t become more selfish—you become more selfless. You become more loving. More generous. More courageous. Because you’re not doing it to be noticed—you’re doing it to be faithful.

When you know who you are in Christ, you can speak the truth in love, even when it’s unpopular. You can stay consistent when others are fickle. You can show grace when others are cold. You can serve people without being owned by their opinions.

That’s what gospel-rooted identity does—it makes you secure and sacrificial at the same time.

But here’s the next layer of truth Paul’s pointing us toward in Galatians 1:10. Not only does living for God’s approval give you freedom from people-pleasing… Not only does it secure your identity in Christ… It also gives you something most people today are desperate for: clarity and courage.

When you stop living for the crowd and start living for Christ, you begin to see life with a new lens. You start walking with purpose. You stop hesitating. You start obeying—even when it’s hard.

Because living for God’s approval doesn’t make you passive… it makes you bold.

Living for God’s Approval Gives You Clarity and Courage

In this single verse, Paul lays out not just a personal confession—but a powerful truth: The clearer you are about who you serve, the bolder you can live.

Let’s be honest—most people today are confused. Confused about who they’re living for. Confused about what they believe. Confused about what really matters.

But when you’re no longer living for the praise of others—when the need to please people dies and the desire to please God takes its place—something happens in your soul: you gain clarity. And from that clarity flows courage.

People-Pleasing Is a Cloud Over Your Calling

Trying to please everyone is like trying to see through fog. It clouds your convictions. It slows your steps. You spend more time managing impressions than following Jesus.

You hesitate when you should act. You second-guess when you should speak. You blend in when you’ve been called to stand out.

You see it all the time:

A believer feels a nudge to speak truth—but stays silent because they’re afraid of how it’ll come across.

A business owner wants to honor God in how they operate—but keeps compromising so the reviews don’t take a hit.

A student knows they’re being called to live differently—but plays along to keep the peace.

When you live for people’s approval, it’s like walking through life with a thousand invisible strings pulling you in every direction.

But when your heart belongs to Christ—and only to Christ—those strings get cut. And that’s when clarity sets in.

Clarity Comes When You Settle Who You’re Living For

Paul says, “I am not seeking to please man. I am a servant of Christ.”

There’s no confusion there. No fuzziness. No mixed signals. Paul isn’t checking polls. He isn’t crowdsourcing his convictions. He knows who he is—and he knows whom he serves.

And from that clarity comes unwavering courage.

This is the same Paul who stood before hostile crowds, corrupt officials, even fellow believers who doubted his calling—and kept preaching. Why? Because his life was no longer ruled by the opinions of others. It was anchored in the approval of God.

And here’s the truth: you don’t need a platform to live this way. You just need clarity. You just need to answer the same question Paul answered: Whose voice matters most?

When You Know Who You're Trying to Please, You Know What to Do

That’s the power of gospel clarity. When you know you’re living for God’s approval, your priorities sharpen. You no longer have to guess where to stand. You just stand where God has spoken.

You no longer have to fear criticism—because you know you’re not aiming for comfort, but for Christlikeness. You no longer have to craft an image—because you’re walking in integrity. That kind of clarity leads to quiet, Spirit-filled courage.

And courage is exactly what this world needs to see. Because a watching world needs bold believers, not approval-addicted Christians.

This sermon series is called "Reflecting Christ in a Watching World." And let’s be real: the world is watching.

They’re watching how we speak. How we live. How we raise our kids. How we handle pressure. How we treat people who disagree with us. And let me tell you something—the world can spot a fake a mile away.

What this world does not need is more image-conscious, reputation-driven, approval-addicted Christians. It needs people who are so deeply rooted in the approval of God that they can live with conviction, grace, and courage—even when it’s hard.

It needs people who will show what Jesus looks like not because it’s popular, but because it’s true.

That doesn’t mean being rude. That doesn’t mean being loud for the sake of being loud. It means being faithful—in speech, in love, in truth.

When you stop chasing people, you start following Jesus more closely. And the more clearly you see Christ, the more courageously you’ll follow him.

You’ll begin to:

Say yes to the things that matter, and no to the things that don’t.

Speak the truth in love, even when it costs you something.

Choose holiness over popularity.

Build a life of substance rather than chasing someone else’s applause.

That’s not just bold—it’s beautiful. And it’s powerful. Because when people see that kind of courage, they want to know what’s behind it.

That’s your chance to say, “It’s not about me—it’s about Christ.”

Now, I know that sounds good in a sermon. But I also know it’s hard.

It’s hard to stop caring what people think. It’s hard to let go of the fear of rejection. It’s hard to say, “I don’t need their approval anymore.” But it gets easier—when you remember whose approval you already have.

You don’t need to wonder if God accepts you. If you are in Christ, he already does!

So stop trying to win something you’ve already received. Stop living to earn something Jesus already secured. And step into the courage that flows from gospel clarity.

So now, let me ask you: What would your life look like—your marriage, your parenting, your work, your witness— if you stopped living for the approval of others… and started living fully in the approval of God? What if the most defining voice in your life wasn’t the boss, or the in-laws, or the neighbors, or the crowd……but the voice of your Father, saying, “You are My beloved child. In Christ, I am well pleased.”

That’s what I want us to wrestle with. Let’s talk about how this changes the way we live—not someday, but today.

Because the truth we’ve walked through today—about approval, identity, and courage—demands a response. You can’t hear this and stay the same.

Paul didn’t write Galatians 1:10 to spark a theological debate. He wrote it to call people back to the gospel. He wrote it to draw a line in the sand and ask: Whose approval are you really living for?

And friend, I want to ask you the same question—not softly, not vaguely, but plainly and directly: Who gets to shape your identity? Who gets to define your worth? Who gets to direct your obedience?

Is it your family’s expectations?

Your friends’ approval?

Your coworkers’ admiration?

The crowd?

The culture?

Or is it Jesus?

Because you cannot live for Christ and chase the approval of man at the same time. One of them will have to bow.

And so today, I’m calling you—with love and urgency—to lay down the idol of people-pleasing. Lay down the burden of needing to be liked. Lay down the exhausting game of image-management and performance. Let it die. And let Jesus reign.

For the follower of Christ… If you're a believer and you’ve been caught in this cycle—living for other people, hiding parts of your faith, softening your convictions just to keep others comfortable—then today is the day to come back to your center. You have nothing to prove and nothing to protect.

God’s Word is clear: “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” You are his. So live like it.

Speak the truth—even when it’s hard.

Set boundaries—even when it’s awkward.

Obey the Spirit’s prompting—even when it’s misunderstood.

Be faithful—even when it’s not fashionable.

Don’t let the fear of what others might think rob you of the joy that comes from walking with Jesus.

For the one still searching… If you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus—if you’ve been chasing after the world’s approval your whole life, and it still hasn’t satisfied you—today is your day.

The approval you’re looking for can’t be found in applause, promotions, popularity, or possessions. It’s found in the cross of Jesus Christ. He died for you. He rose again. And in him, the Father says to you: “You are loved. You are chosen. You are welcome to come—not because of your record, but because of Mine.”

All you have to do is turn. Repent. Surrender. And receive the one approval that will never fade: the approval of your Creator, sealed in the blood of his Son.

What step do you need to take today? Maybe it’s a phone call you’ve been putting off. Maybe it’s confessing a fear that’s kept you in chains. Maybe it’s finally stepping out in obedience—leading, serving, or sharing your faith. Or maybe it’s just getting alone with God this afternoon and saying, “Lord, I’ve been living for everyone but You. I’m done. I’m Yours.”

Whatever it is—take that step today. Because the longer you live for the crowd, the more you’ll miss the joy of walking in the freedom of Christ.

And just imagine for a moment… What if we actually lived like that? What if a church full of people in Devine, Texas decided that God’s “well done” meant more than the world’s applause? What if your life wasn’t shaped by the fear of rejection, but the freedom of God’s approval? What would it look like—at work, at home, in this town—if we reflected Christ not by trying to fit in… but by faithfully standing out?

Imagine waking up tomorrow and not feeling the pressure to prove anything to anyone. Imagine getting ready in the morning, looking in the mirror, and instead of measuring yourself by what others might think, you remember the words of your Father: “You are My child. You are already approved in Christ.”

Imagine walking into your workplace—not needing to posture or pretend—just showing up, honest and faithful, because your worth doesn’t ride on the boss’s opinion anymore.

Imagine parenting your children—not out of fear of how other families might see you—but out of joy, because your identity is rooted in grace, not performance.

Imagine sitting at a family dinner or gathering with old friends—and instead of shrinking back from your faith or softening your convictions, you speak with grace and clarity, because your confidence doesn’t come from fitting in… it comes from belonging to Christ.

What would your marriage look like, your friendships, your witness in this town, if you were living not for likes, not for recognition, not for acceptance, but from a place of deep assurance:

“I am already known. I am already loved. I am already approved by the God who formed me, saved me, and called me by name.”

That kind of life is not reserved for spiritual superheroes. It’s not just for the apostle Paul. It’s for you. It’s for the exhausted mom, the lonely student, the overworked employee, the anxious teenager, the recovering people-pleaser, the faithful believer trying to live quietly for Jesus in a loud world.

That freedom is for you. That clarity is for you. That courage is for you.

And can you imagine what would happen if our whole church began to live like that? If we walked into every room, every conversation, every opportunity with one aim in mind—

“I’m not here to impress. I’m here to reflect Jesus.”

“I’m not performing. I’m following.”

“I’m not chasing approval—I’m resting in it.”

The world wouldn’t know what to do with a people like that.

Because when we stop living for ourselves—and stop living for others—and start living for Christ… We become a light. A witness. A walking testimony of the freedom and power of the gospel.

But that vision only becomes reality… if we take a step. If we move from inspiration to obedience.

Because it’s one thing to be stirred. It’s another to be changed.

So let me ask you:

What is the Holy Spirit prompting you to do right now? What’s the step you need to take today—this week—to live for God’s approval?

You’ve seen the beauty of the freedom that comes when we live not for the world’s approval, but for God’s. Now you have a choice to make.

You can walk out of here and continue managing your image, editing your obedience, and bowing to opinions that change with the wind… Or—by the power of the Spirit—you can walk out of here free.

Free to speak truth in love. Free to serve without striving. Free to say yes to Jesus and no to everything that competes with his voice.

So let me ask you: What’s your next step?

If you're a follower of Jesus, and you know you've been living for the approval of people, it’s time to repent—not in shame, but in freedom. The gospel is not just your ticket to heaven—it’s your release from bondage. It’s your permission to stop pretending and start living in the joy of God’s delight in you.

So what’s the step?

Maybe you need to have a courageous conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Maybe you need to let go of something that’s defined you for too long—your reputation, your role, your performance.

Maybe you need to begin your mornings with this simple prayer: “Lord, today I want to please You above everyone else.”

Take that step. Obey. You are free.

And if you’re here today and you’ve never trusted in Christ, I want to speak directly to you: you don’t need to earn God’s approval. You never could. But Jesus already did—for you.

On the cross, he bore your sin, your shame, your striving. And when he rose from the grave, Jesus made it possible for you to be fully known, fully forgiven, and fully accepted.

You don’t need to clean yourself up. You don’t need to perform. You don’t need to prove anything.

You just need to come. John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

If today you’re ready to stop chasing approval and start walking in grace, surrender your life to Jesus. Come talk with me. Let’s pray. Don’t leave wondering. Don’t leave searching. Come to the Savior who already approves of you—not because of who you are, but because of what he’s done.

So here’s the call for each of us: Stop living for the crowd’s applause and start living for the Savior’s smile.

You already have his love. You already have his attention. You already have his approval—in Christ.

Now, live like it. Let’s be a church known not for our image, but for our integrity. Not for trying to fit in, but for standing faithfully for Christ. Let’s reflect Jesus in this watching world—not because it’s easy, but because he is worthy.

Let’s live for God’s approval—because when we do, we’ll have everything we need.