This is a continuation of my article on “Pleasing God”, of which Part 1 was published on 14 September 2008, and Part 2 on 26 October 2008. If you want to read these articles please go to our church website: http://www.hopebpc.com/ or ask the Lively Hope Editorial Team to reprint them for your edification.

It is natural for a born-again believer to want to please God. This is not because the believer wants a commendation or reward from God, but because he or she loves Him. It is also a duty!

Matt 22:37 - “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”.  Just to say that we love God is not enough. We have to back that ‘love’ with our actions – with our hearts, our souls and our minds!

What else can we do to please God as truly born-again believers?

I have covered the following in the previous articles:

1. When we love Him – with everything we have in our possession!

2. When we abide in Him, study His Word and pray to Him.

3. When we obey Him.

4. When we trust in Him.

5. When we thank Him.

6. When we want to know more about our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. When we are faithful in our church attendance.

8. When we are kind to others.

9. When we forgive others, even our enemies.

10. When we maintain a stable good and godly family.

11. When we do good works.

There are other ways we can please God:

12. When we avoid disputes.

We are all imperfect and by nature sinful creatures (Rom 3:10 – 18). There is a tendency for us to get ourselves involved in unpleasantries, arguments, disputes, fights, etc….. We like to think we are perfect whereas others are not! Since we have been redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ we are now transformed. We are new creatures, especially elected by God and as such we should not behave like non-believers. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:17). As new creatures saved by grace, though still imperfect, we should “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” (Phil 2:14). “Murmur” means “to complain, whinge or grumble”. “Disputing” means “arguing or quarrelling”. As believers, we are commanded never to complain or whinge or cause unnecessary trouble. Instead, we are to accept the difficulties in life willingly, and to understand that God is allowing these to happen for a reason. Within the church setting, we must endeavour to “avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Tit 3:9), and worse of all “they do gender strifes” (2 Tim 2:23). Many churches have split because of disagreements, factions and divisions over minor issues. As believers, we must strive to avoid anything that may result in the destruction of our church or fellowship. Let us therefore be humble, love and care for one another, and put God and our Christ Jesus first above all else. When something appears to be a problem let us remember who is above us all – “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). Our Lord Jesus had done so much for us – shed His blood and died for us on the cross to deliver us from eternal damnation and therefore we should be do our best to avoid contentions that should be the domain of non-believers. God is watching us and we have to give an account to Him one day!

13. When we look forward to Christ’s Second Coming.

When we are saved in our Lord Jesus Christ, we should look forward to His Second Coming. Actually, many professing Christians want to live as long as they can on earth, and do not want to see Him coming just yet. Why? They say that there is fun living here, and they want to be close to their family members, relatives and friends. They want to see what this place is going to be like in the future. They want to see their great grand children. They want to visit foreign places….etc…..They do not want to be with the LORD yet! This is amazing! Heaven is a wonderful place where there is no pain, suffering, fear and danger. I have not been there, but whatever is revealed in The Word of God is enough for me to yearn for that place! Those of us who look forward to Christ’s Second Coming are promised a reward – a ‘crown of righteousness’. “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8). Going to heaven is one thing, and being rewarded is another!

14. When we are not slothful in business.

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Rom 12:11). ‘Business’ means more than just our job or business of making a living. It covers all aspect of life. A saved individual will try his best in everything to please God – whether it be church attendance (and punctuality), fellowship activities, Bible Study, evangelism, church responsibilities, secular study, job, business, relationships, rearing children, and in his or her responsibility to the nation. We should not be “slothful” – meaning ‘lazy, idle or lacklustre” – with our business. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Eccles 9:10). Remember, even if our bosses, or colleagues or clients or customers are difficult and traumatic to handle, we are doing it for the Lord. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Col 3:23). People are very difficult to please. They are never satisfied. When we look to God and work for Him, we will be able to sustain and overcome problems, and to enjoy our work. In other words, we serve the Lord in whatever we do. When we become believers, we become His bond-servants. Only when we look to Him can we then work for many years through difficult storms in our working lives.

There are many other ways for a believer to please God from The Word of God.

I trust this has been of help and will be edifying for you.

May God bless you all.

Elder Michael D Lee

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