Audience of One: Who Are We Really Trying to Impress?
What compels us to pursue excellence? Why do we feel that relentless pressure to accomplish every task with perfection and maintain the facade that we have it all together?
I would love to say the answer is “for the Lord alone,” but I’m afraid that isn’t always true. I suspect I’m not alone in this struggle. I could easily blame my Type A personality, my task-oriented nature, or the fact that I inherited my father’s workaholic tendencies. There is also that undeniable hit of dopamine that comes from checking a task off a list—a small victory for the ego.
But if I’m being truthful? The root is often pride. I am either seeking self-satisfaction or trying to curate an image that impresses those around me.
The Paul Perspective
The Apostle Paul provides a sobering reality check in Galatians 1:10:
“For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Paul wasn’t preaching to “persuade” God; God requires no persuasion regarding the truth of the Gospel. Nor was he tailoring his message to win a popularity contest. Instead, Paul was simply walking out the radical transformation that began on the road to Damascus. He went from being the ultimate persecutor to becoming one of the persecuted—a follower of Christ. He was never the same.
That transformation is what compelled Paul to serve with such honesty, diligence, and unwavering faith. He wasn’t working for a gold star; he was sharing the light that had saved him from his own darkness.
A Prayer for Perspective
Lord, forgive me when my desire for excellence is fueled by a hunger for human applause or personal pride. When I am tempted to perform, remind me of the road to Damascus. May my obedience be rooted in love, and may pleasing You be the only compelling reason for everything I do.
Amen.
Banner photo by Paulette Wooten on Unsplash
