{The fourth installment in the In ____We Trust Series}
Acceptance plays an important role in our self-worth and our reception of love. Without acceptance, it’s difficult to maintain a job, excel at anything, etc….Having other’s approval is valuable for living at peace with others and even reaching people for Christ.
Acceptance, like Google or medicine, is absolutely something God created and works through. When acceptance is viewed and lived well, it’s a gift.
When acceptance by others is seen an end and not a means or as worthy of our reliance and dedication, we have a problem. Because this is where we trust in acceptance by others rather than trusting in God. Scripture often phrases this issue as trying to please people or win their approval.
Galatians 1:10 challenges us to ask:
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. “
To live as a servant of God is not to live as one seeking to please man. Obviously, the Bible doesn’t also say: make no friends. Make people unhappy. By this, you will please God. (Wow would I be a role model somedays if this were His command!)
The Lord is all about good relationships and serving others.
The issue lies in the stock we put into others’ acceptance.
Trusting in acceptance means that we rely on others’ approval to validate what we do or who we are.
At the heart of acceptance is validation or justification. At the heart of trusting in acceptance- seeking to be justified and approved of.
Putting our trust in acceptance can look like this:
- If I am accepted by this person, I will feel loved.
- In feeling loved, I will be more worthwhile.
- My worthwhileness will enable me to do more good in the world.
- By doing good in the world, I’ll be more worthwhile.
- By being more worthwhile, I’ll be more lovable.
- By being more lovable, I’ll be more easily accepted by people.
Acceptance by others is justification for justification’s sake. It’s a cycle, a circle, and it’s self-contained.
There are two issues here.
Trusting in acceptance by others leaves us perpetually trying to earn more acceptance.
Trusting in others’ acceptance is precarious and risky; when we are rejected, as we will be, that’s just that. And it feels hopeless.
Really, that’s all one issue.
Because trusting in acceptance ultimately means trusting in our works. That’s how human acceptance functions. It’s based on what we do, what we strive for, and which other mere human beings care.
Trusting in acceptance by the Lord is so much more fulfilling and hopeful. Plus- it matters and lasts for eternity.
To be approved by God, all you need to do is be saved by Jesus Christ. Your works don’t matter. Your character doesn’t count. What He has done for you and who He is all that matters.
And the saved need to remember that daily. Because we are being rejected daily. We are failing daily. We are sinning, offending, hurting others, and seeking approval in all the wrong ways…daily.
I pray that we know this truth and live it because this is such a regular avenue of joy in the Christian life. Meanwhile, putting too much stock into being accepted by others is a regular source of discouragement. Take inventory.
How much of your life is based on seeking the approval of man? How much of your life is based on knowing you have been accepted by God and living a life pleasing to Him- worthy of your calling? (Ephesians 4:1)
For this series, I’ll be writing each Monday on something (or someone) I tend to trust in besides God.
What about you? How do you fill in the blank: In ______ I Trust?
Writers and non-writers are welcome to submit guest posts. Contact me here by June 12th telling me what you trust in besides God and how He helps you trust Him more.
Starting June 20th guest posting will begin!
This post will also be shared on: #TestimonyTuesday, #RaRaLinkup, #Intentionally Pursuing, #WomenWithIntention, #TellHiStory, #Thought-Provoking Thursday, #DanceWithJesus, #LLMLinkup and #SoulSurvivalLinkup.
Your blogpost has triggered me to ponder acceptance! With your permission, may I elaborate?
Acceptance is a concept created by God. Within the Trinity, acceptance is in a state of perfectness. I do not wish to sound mystical or overly harmonious with this description. Instead, when the Persons of the Trinity are examined simultaneously, it is a picture of utterly pure acceptance; in fact, by looking to the Trinity we can have our grasp of many, many concepts clarified, intensified and enhanced in terms of each concept’s true meaningfulness. Perhaps this portion of scripture from Psalm 8 might provide a significant focus for any additional contemplations:
O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens! . . .
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8: 1, 3-4 NKJV)
Isn’t Our Lord, The Triune God, willing to offer the very same acceptance for each one of us as is present among and within the Trinity?
Yes!
When we naturally feel the manner in which human interactions consistently fall short of delivering a sense of acceptance, it is the Living Lord Jesus that provides us the very same acceptance, which He eternally possessed within the Trinity, willingly made available to any who would trust in Him by His act of humility in becoming flesh and giving Himself as a sacrifice acceptable as a provision for our sins, and sits at the Father’s right hand advocating and securing this acceptance from the Father for each one who holds this in truth.
Mike! Thanks so much for stopping by and adding in : ) So many great points you make. For each of the topics in this series, including acceptance, I’m finding there is SO much to dig into- an abundance of meaning and truth to marvel at and learn from. Your points about the Trinity so resonate with me. A Bible Study I once participated in looked to the example of submission in the trinity to understand what submission in love is all about. I believe these go hand in hand: submission meaning accepting another as they are an accepting what they do. We see this played out between the members of the Trinity to create a perfect union and change (and make. and save.) the whole world and every one of us. Just amazing.
But anyway, before I write another blog post, thanks again! You have me excited and pondering this concept more too! If you have a different topic to add to this series, as mentioned at the bottom of the post above, I’d love to include it as a guest post!
Have a great day!
Thanks for sharing this post! I appreciated the thoughts this morning, especially ‘Trusting in acceptance by the Lord is so much more fulfilling and hopeful.’
Wonderful reflections. I call it idolizing myself and others. I idolize myself, when I change my actions and words to make others accept me, because I’m looking to myself rather than to God. And I’m idolizing them where I look at their attributes as the example to live by.
My One Word I’m focusing on this year is “Behold”. Where I behold God, there is no room for idolizing or comparing. And it’s a lesson I’m having to learn the hard way, over and over again. But God has been faithful and patient in teaching me.
So true! I love your One Word, Behold. I wrote a whole series based off that word at Christmas!! When we behold Him, we find He really is sufficient and you’re right, that means we don’t easily find room for trusting in idolizing or anything else.
Another thought provoking post! Blessings!
Sometimes it is so hard to break out of that cycle. To remember that our works, our striving, our trying, will never get us any closer to God, to love. It is only in our surrender. Maybe the one thing we need to accept is ourselves.
Thanks for taking us to the heart of the matter, Bethany. What matters most is how measure up in God’s eyes, and He is full of grace and truth.
Good reminder that we always need to look to God rather than approval of man. Thanks for sharing at #LMMLinkup!