Category Archives: People pleasing

Addicted to Like

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It’s amazing the power of a blue thumb. You know, that symbol that means someone has “liked” something we posted online. We like to get liked in that way. Facebook knows that, as do other websites. They know that if we are receiving applause, we’ll continue to create content for them and consume the content created by others. Most importantly, we’ll allow them to make money.

I use the Internet a lot. I post on this blog; I post on other websites; I use social media. And I like getting likes.

The danger lies when that becomes our goal. When that begins to shape our content and even our ideas. Like the chicken that gets rewarded for pressing the right button, we learn to say things that are popular or to say provocative things to stir up discussion. We may not discuss truly important things, but rather stick to things that will get a greater reaction.

May we speak truth. May we speak of important things. May we seek God’s approval more than a blue thumb.

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6)

Please all, please none

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donkeyThe Man, The Boy, and The Donkey
(from Aesop’s Fables)

A Man and his Son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?”

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.”

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn’t gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”

Well the Man didn’t know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passersby began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor Donkey of yours—you and your hulking son?”

The man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the Donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole and the Donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together, he was drowned.

“That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them: “Please all, and you will please none.”