Proper Perception

Prov. 29:²⁵ (GN) “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you…”

If your waking thoughts are about what this person or that person thinks about you, then Scripture says that you are treading a dangerous path. Some people are just unpleasable; accept it and live with it. Fact number two: I do not have to please everyone; so you do not have to please everyone. One of the myths Christians imbibe without knowing it is, everybody needs to like me because I am a child of God. Sorry, not everybody will like you. Did everybody like Jesus? No! Are you better than Jesus? Nope! Not everybody will like you, just accept it. Jesus says in John 5:³⁰ “I only seek to please Him who sent me…”

Fact number three: even God cannot please everyone! Luke 6:²⁶ “Woe to you when all men speak well of you…” In other words, God is saying that when all men speak well of you, you are cursed. Why? In most cultures in the world, it is only the dead people you must speak well of. So, if everyone speaks well of you something is wrong. It means you are not alive in your calling. I pray you will not be a living dead, in Jesus Name. So, what if everyone does not like you? Big deal – take a deep breath and be at peace. Like Jesus, seek only to please God alone.

In dealing with difficult people the second thing to do is Refuse To Retaliate. Refuse to retaliate even when someone is being very demeaning. 1 Pet.3:⁹ “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult…” If every marriage is run with this Scripture as the bedrock, there will be little or no problems in marriages. When we feel insulted by other people, our natural reaction is to put them in their place. God says do not repay insult with insult and do not repay evil with evil. Just refuse to retaliate. It will be tough but refuse to fight back. Let God do your fighting for you and He is a better fighter than you are.

Prov.12:¹⁶ (GN)“When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Smart people will ignore an insult.” People will deliberately create situations to insult and dishonour you. God’s Word says a fool gets annoyed immediately but a wise person will ignore it. How does God want you to respond to insult? Ignore it. Let us dwell on this truth and marinate. Let it enter into your system. And as you ignore insults, you will discover God’s strength at work in you.

Prayer: Father, I will live my life to the audience of You alone and ignore the opinions and insults of men, in Jesus Name. Amen!