Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Some.
First glance at the word prompt and one thought rushing into my head: “You can please some of the people all the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
It’s an idiom and I have no idea with whom it originated. As one who is trying to break the habit of being a people-pleaser, the saying goes through my head often.
A couple of weeks ago, I heard a song that was new to me. It challenged me in every good way possible. It also brought me to look at this verse:
“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.” (Galatians 1:10, NASB)
Paul may not have known the idiom but he had the very same thought. He knew he was not going to be able to please all the people, all the time.
So he aimed to please the SomeOne he could.
He chose to walk with Jesus.
May we choose to walk with the same One.
Image by Jensen Art Co from Pixabay
Today I may be joining …
It is very easy to become overly-concerned with pleasing other people. Thanks for pointing us back to the one we should be looking to please.
Amen! Pleasing God is always first. It’s difficult when others, even Christians, don’t understand what God is calling me to and sometimes even tries to convince me to go in another direction. But God blesses when we follow Him!
(I’ve heard it was Benjamin Franklin who said, “You can please some of the people …”, but I think it was really Abraham Lincoln – which makes way more sense. But a quick research is telling me John Lyngate.) Blessings! (FMF#2)
😂 It seems many said it. That is so funny. We all know the idiom because it is true. May we walk in His ways and please the only One we should. Thanks for stopping to share!
It sure is hard sometimes I agree! FMF friend
pros and cons about being a people pleaser. It’s hard to be one…. and yet, easy at the same time? and fairly easy to work for one… and yet at times aggravating. 🙂 FMF14 some people eh??? 🙂
A good idiom to keep in mind. It is so true.
Great word Ms. Joanne. I so often remind myself of Matthew 5:37. It makes it easier for me to say “No” to some requests. Although, admittedly, I need to practice this more.