Galatians 1:1-10 (KJV)
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Approval is something we crave for and often seek both for ourselves and from others. It is usually a natural phenomenon that we are born with, and in most cases, we want people to approve of us. The danger inherent in seeking the approval of people is that, in most cases, it is very conditional on so many things that often impact us negatively. Now, let me establish that there is a godly approval that is based on righteousness and godly standards. When we do godly things, and we are doing so with a godly motive, people will see it and be in approval of such actions.
You did not do such deeds with the intent of getting approval, but you did it because it is the righteous thing to do. Such approval is good. What the Bible is addressing is when we become people who compromise our standards and values to be approved of men. It is detrimental to who we are, what we stand for, who we claim to represent, and impacts negatively on the Gospel.
Therefore, Paul challenges us to seek the approval of God and not people. Many factors impact which can lead us to seek the approval of people:
- Lack of self-value and contentment in oneself. Meaning that when I don’t value who I am and am not okay with who God made me be, I feel a void and an emptiness that I now want to fill by seeking the approval and validation of others. When they don’t give it, I do anything under Heaven to get it irrespective of what it may cost me only to realize that I am still empty.
- Being raised to think that we are nobody without people’s approval. In many instances, parents failed to raise their children to be independent in a Godly way, where the child knows his or her values in God. And that she or he has innate worth and that God created him or her the best of God so that the child grows self-validating and self-actualized. This is empowering because the Child understands the value of healthy self-relationship and the place of healthy interpersonal relationships.
- When we feel drawn to people who always put us down, and we allow ourselves to normalize such relationships in our lives. This will ultimately lead to continuously seeking the approval of people because we will always think that without so and so in our lives, we are nothing.
Hear me clearly, you are God’s best, and you have all it takes to be who God wants you to be. Allow God to bless you with people who are healthy for you and who speak strength into your life. Who affirms the values of your life and who encountered you to be your best in life and your walk with God. Blessed is that person in whose life there are people such as that believe in you and see the greatness in you and encourages you to be that person that you are ordained to be. Seeking the approval of people negatively will stop you from pleasing God because you cannot serve two masters at a time. You are blessed and highly favored.