… and please him in every way:
Summary: It is a lovely thing to want to please someone, but only if we do it out of love.
The “him” in this passage is Jesus. Paul is praying for the Colossians (and us!) to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will so that we can live a life “worthy of the Lord.”
When Paul talks about living a life “worthy of the Lord,” he is thinking about how we can best please God. In his prior life as a Pharisee, Paul would have tried to please God by following the Mosaic laws. Now, as a Christian, Paul strives to follow the spirit of the law.
There is a big difference between these two approaches.
Following the Mosaic law is an exercise in trying to please God by obeying rules. The problem with this approach is that our focus is on what we shouldn’t do instead of what we should do.
I remember once, years ago, riding in the car with my youngest son driving. He had just got his license, and we were driving down the freeway when I spotted something in the road. It wasn’t big, but it was in the tire track area, and it looked like it might be sharp enough to puncture a tire. I pointed it out to my son and said, “Don’t hit that thing in the road!”
Immediately, his eyes were drawn to the “thing” he wasn’t supposed to hit. Traveling at freeway speed, he was smart enough not to jerk the steering wheel. I appreciated that. Unfortunately, he seemed mesmerized by the very thing I had pointed out.
“Thump!”
We hit the sharp thing dead center on the tire. Like so many other things in life, our momentum carries us in the direction we are looking. Thankfully, our tire survived the hit. Driving over God’s law, however, is not without consequences.
Paul points out that believers are “not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). This doesn’t mean that the law goes away. Instead, we are no longer “under” the authority of the law. Because we are now children of God (John 1:12), we operate under a different authority, the authority of our Father, God himself.
A family relationship is very different than a relationship founded on rules.
Laws depend on power and authority to enforce. Disobedience results in punishment. Staying within the law avoids punishment. The law is based on pain avoidance.
A family relationship depends on love. Not the romantic kind of love that we celebrate on Valentine’s Day, but the sacrificial love known as agapé. Agapé love wants to please the Father. Instead of laws that fence us in, love draws us closer to God. When we love him, we want to please him in every way.
Application: The secret to pleasing God is love.
Food for Thought: How many ways are there to please God?
I think your question is as much a “what pleases God” as it is “how many ways.” lol. At least that is what came to my mind this morning. So it led me to do a little researching, which I enjoy, and I bring this up only because I’m not really this smart, only smart enough to research.
Contemporary discernment of the Bible seem to agree on seven ways. I would posit that these are “areas of devotion in our life” that please the Lord verses a definitive list. I think all these areas fall under the two greatest commandants:
Matthew 22:37-39 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Having faith:
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Being spiritually minded:
Romans 8:6-8 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The fear of the Lord:
Psalm 147:11
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Following Christ’s example:
Matthew 17:5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Obeying God:
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Offering sacrifices of praising to Him and doing good in His name:
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Your smarter than you think. You did some great research.
Chris
I like how you divided your response into two arenas: loving God and loving others. Loving God is a great place to start!
How many ways are there to please God?
As I study the Bible I believe we are repeatedly taught to die to self and live in the power of Jesus Christ, pleasing God as we seek His will over our own.
Matthew 6:33, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 22:42, Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Galatians 1:10, For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Thank you, Ron.
‘Dying to self’ is such an interesting concept. It seems like a contradiction in terms. Yet, you are absolutely right! The more we die to “self” the more alive in Christ we can be.
Good responses Ch and R2T2. I think this is a pretty well covered topic. Clearly faith; seeking Him and loving Him with all our heart , soul and mind; loving others; serving Him and others in His name; and worship would all be on that list. But I suppose the potential answers would be limitless.
Rich,
Thank you! Yes, the answers are limitless! 🙂 You point us in the right direction though – loving God!
How many ways are there to please God?
How many decisions do you make during a day?
Amen, Tim!
Great point