It truly is impossible to please everyone. No matter how hard we try, someone is going to be upset because of something we have said or done. No matter how good our intentions may have been. While we know we won’t always be able to please everyone that does not mean we should not try. Christians should strive to be like the Apostle Paul who always tried to please everyone, whether Jew or Gentile, to see many saved.
1 Corinthians 10:33 (ESV)
33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Paul had one goal in his life and that was seeing the lost saved. He was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen as long as it did not mean altering the word of God or excusing sin. He was willing to liken himself to anyone and even give up certain things if it meant potentially seeing someone saved. His goal was to please people and not offend them.
1 Corinthians 9:20–23 (ESV)
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 8:13 (ESV)
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
After stating that he tries to please everyone with everything he does he then calls for us to imitate him. What is really interesting though is that he not only says to imitate him but to do so as he imitates Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)
11 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
When you step back and look at the life of Jesus, He did just as Paul later copied. He did not do what was best for himself but instead did what was best for everyone else. He humbles himself and puts aside everything to serve others. Giving up His life to make a way for us to be saved. Jesus tried to please everyone by freeing them from sin and the fear of death.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 2:2 (ESV)
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
As Christians, we should share this same mindset. It should be our goal to please everyone as long as it doesn’t mean altering the truth of Scripture. We should find ways to connect with others. We should give up those things that are not important but offend others if it means we could lead someone to salvation. Putting the needs of others before our own.
Philippians 2:4 (ESV)
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Jesus charged His followers to go and make disciples of all people. That is the reason every believer finds themselves still living today. Every one of us has a purpose and it is to help lead others to Jesus in our daily lives. That means putting others before yourself and trying to please everyone. This is done in part by living out the spiritual principles of love, kindness, patience, gentleness, mercy, and forgiveness. While also doing your best to relate and not offend others by your actions especially concerning things that don’t matter.
So heed to the call of Paul. Imitate him as he imitates Christ and work to please others. It won’t always work the Bible makes that clear by the life both Jesus and Paul lived. You simply can’t please everyone but it does not mean you should not try. Since it means that you might just be able to save some. There is nothing greater than knowing you helped to lead someone to Jesus no matter what you gave up to do so.
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