Are you a 'People Pleaser' ?!?

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody."
-- Herbert B. Swope. 

 When are we going to learn that trying to please 'people' will only result in frustration, bitterness, exhaustion, and feeling 'used'?  Sometimes you take care of others and neglect yourself.  But in the end... those people you pour into will continue to demand more out of you, and be ungrateful for your 'sacrifices'.  It is truly 'people bondage', because you are enslaved by your devotion to others, and your mood is determined by how they treat you in return. Then, when you are not doing what they want, they will turn on you in a minute.

Over time, you become a 'martyr', telling anyone who will listen how much you do, and how no one appreciates you. If you are honest: you will admit that you somewhat enjoy the sympathy of others, and you listen to advice telling you to cut these folks off and out of your life; but you will never do that, will you?... Because then what will you be able to complain about? You probably think that they NEED you, they cant do things right without your assistance, they will fail if you aren't there, right? But aren't you now taking the place of God in their life? How can they learn to open on him with you always coming to their rescue? Hmmmm.....

Jesus hit the nail on the head when he told busy Martha that sitting at his feet like Mary was more important than all the serving and catering that Martha was doing (and complaining about). The approval of God should be your first and main focus. Learning his ways, becoming more like Him...and teaching others.  When you are most like Him, you could care less what others say or think about you, and you will only help others when and if God leads you to. It is not your job to be everyone's 'Savior'...we already have one of those, and He did the job perfectly!!

My lesson? Don't be caught up in 'people pleasing'..because people will love you one minute, and hate you the next. ~Focus on pleasing God: His love never fails or changes!! ~