Serving God Alone

Discover the incompatibility of serving God and seeking human approval in this convicting episode about choosing your master. Based on Galatians 1:10, we learn that we can't serve God and approval from people—it is incompatible. Paul is showing us in this passage another application of Jesus's teaching that we cannot serve two masters. Continuing to untangle from approval, today we address the reality that trying to please people disqualifies us from being servants of Christ.

What You'll Learn:

• Why serving God and seeking human approval are incompatible
• What Paul's diagnostic questions reveal about who you're serving
• What people-pleasing looks like in practical terms
• How Jesus's two masters principle applies to approval-seeking
• Why we try to serve both and why it doesn't work
• A practical untangle moment to choose obedience over approval

Seeking Approval or Seeking God: Paul asks two diagnostic questions: "Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?" These questions force a choice—it's one or the other, not both. When you're making a decision, whose approval are you seeking? When you're choosing how to live, who are you trying to please? If the answer is people, then you're not serving God. You might believe in God, might go to church, but you're not serving Him. 

The Two Masters Principle: Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." This isn't about literal hatred—it's about priority. You can't give full devotion to both. One will always take priority. 

Why We Try to Serve Both: We want to be faithful to God and liked by people. We want obedience and approval. We think we can have both. But when those two things conflict—and they will—we have to choose. 

The Freedom of Serving One Master: When you stop trying to please everyone and just serve God, you're actually more free. When you're trying to serve two masters, you're constantly torn, anxious, second-guessing, exhausted from trying to keep everyone happy. But when you choose to serve God alone, the decision is clear: "What does God want? That's what I'll do. Even if people don't like it." You're not controlled by their opinions anymore. You're free to obey.

Your Untangle Moment: Identify one specific decision or area where you're trying to please people instead of God, then practice untangling by choosing obedience to God even if it means losing approval.

Perfect for anyone compromising obedience for approval, paralyzed by fear of what others think, or learning that you can't serve both God and human opinion.

Scripture Focus: Galatians 1:10 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Approval

Learn to be a servant of Christ instead of a people-pleaser and discover the freedom of serving one master.