Ludwig van Beethoven stood facing the orchestra as the last notes of his Symphony no. 9 faded away. After it was over, he continued to face the musicians, perhaps wondering where he had gone wrong. Why was there no applause from the audience?
Finally, a singer approached one of the greatest composers of all time, turned him around, and let him see the wild, thundering applause raining down on him from the crowd.
You see, by the time his Symphony no. 9 in D Minor, op. 125, also known as the Choral Symphony, was premiered in 1824, Beethoven was profoundly deaf. He couldn’t hear the applause of the people.1
Are you sometimes deaf to the applause of God? Sometimes we can be so focused on winning the approval of others that we forget how very much God approves of us.
In Galatians 1:10, the apostle Paul addresses this very issue:
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul had much to recommend about himself:
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. — Philippians 3:4-6
But you know what Paul says next?
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. — Philippians 3:7
What a burden it is to try to please everyone. Paul told the Corinthians that he became all things to all people so he might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22), but his goal was not to make people like him; it was to proclaim the gospel in a way people could hear. When your goal is to be liked, it may feel good to please others, but when you fail to do so the next time, it can send you spiraling down.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about this issue of pleasing people as well.
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 2:4-6
So how do you listen to the approval you already have from God (1 Thessalonians 2:4)? 1 Corinthians 4:5 says,
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
About this verse, missionary and Bible teacher Rick Renner wrote, “Paul used the word epainos to evoke a very strong image. By using this word, he let us know that a day is coming when we will give account for our lives. On that day, if we have lived right before God and the motives behind our service were pure, we will receive praise from the Lord Himself. It will be as if He rises to His feet to give a round of applause and a standing ovation! In fact, Paul’s imagery is so strong that the verse could be loosely interpreted, “And at that time every man will have the applause of God.”2
Picture that moment. You stand before the throne of God and He looks over your life, all you’ve done, your motivations for doing them, your heart. And then He stands to his feet and begins to applaud you. You hear the words
Well done, good and faithful servant. — Matthew 25:21
All you ever heard from the people in your life before this moment pales in comparison. All those times when you did something you really didn’t want to do, but you wanted the approval of the person asking? Forgotten. Those times when you said something you didn’t really feel because you knew the person listening wanted to hear it? Gone.
Waking up in the morning wanting to be liked, accepted, and admired can be a fearsome burden, causing you to question everything you do and everything that’s true about you. But you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14); you sparkle like jewels (Zechariah 9:16); you are His treasured possession (Malachi 3:17).
- Be still and listen to the applause of your heavenly Father. When you focus on Him and live to please Him, you will find greater peace.
