As Christians, we are called to live in love, kindness, and humility, serving others as Christ did. However, the Bible teaches us to seek God’s approval above human praise. While it is good to encourage and support others, our ultimate goal should be to glorify God in everything we do. Below are Bible verses that highlight the balance between serving others and staying true to God’s will.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Pleasing God, Not man
Seeking to Please God First
While we are called to love and serve others, our first priority should always be to please God. The Bible reminds us that pleasing people at the expense of our faith can lead us away from God’s truth. We are to seek His will above all else.
Galatians 1:10
“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
Colossians 3:23
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4
“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”
John 12:43
“For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”
Matthew 6:1
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”
Serving Others with Love
We are called to serve one another in love. Pleasing others should not be about seeking validation but about showing the love of Christ through our actions. Jesus Himself set the perfect example of serving others selflessly.
Galatians 5:13
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Romans 15:2
“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.”
Philippians 2:3
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”
Proverbs 19:17
“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!”
Avoiding the Trap of People-Pleasing
While it is good to be considerate of others, we should not fall into the trap of constantly seeking human approval. Our identity is in Christ, and we must stand firm in His truth rather than conforming to worldly expectations.
Proverbs 29:25
“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.”
Romans 12:2
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
Luke 6:26
“What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”
2 Corinthians 5:9
“So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.”
Encouraging Others in Faith
As followers of Christ, we should strive to build others up in their faith. Encouraging others is not about pleasing them for selfish reasons, but about pointing them toward God’s truth and love.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
Hebrews 10:24
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Proverbs 12:25
“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”
Romans 14:19
“So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About People Pleasing
Living in Peace with Others
God calls us to live in harmony with others. Pleasing others should never come at the cost of compromising our faith, but we are encouraged to be peacemakers and to foster unity whenever possible.
Romans 12:18
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Hebrews 12:14
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
Matthew 5:9
“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”
2 Corinthians 13:11
“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Psalm 133:1
“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”
Being a Servant Without Seeking Praise
True service is done for God’s glory, not for the praise of people. Jesus teaches us to serve with humility, knowing that God sees our hearts and will reward us in His time.
Matthew 6:3-4
“But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Luke 14:12-14
“Then he turned to his host. ‘When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,’ he said, ‘don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.'”
Matthew 23:11-12
“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
John 13:14-15
“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”
Trusting God for Approval, Not People
Ultimately, we should seek God’s approval above all else. When we trust Him, we will find confidence in His purpose for our lives rather than striving for the fleeting praise of people.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Isaiah 2:22
“Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”
Psalm 118:8
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.”
Jeremiah 17:7
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”