Do you try to please everyone? A lesson from Aesop’s fables. Aesop tells the story of an old man and his son bringing a donkey to market. Passing some people on the way, they hear a remark, “Look at that silly pair – walking when they could be riding comfortably.” The idea seemed sensible so the old man and the boy mounted the donkey and continued on their way. Soon they passed another group. “Look at that lazy pair,” said a voice, “breaking the back of that poor donkey.” The old man then slid off, but soon they heard another criticism from a passerby: “What a terrible thing, the old man walking while the boy rides.” They changed places, but soon heard people whispering, “What a terrible thing, the big strong man riding and making the little boy walk.” The old man and the boy pondered the situation and finally continued their journey in yet another manner, carrying the donkey on a pole between them. As they crossed the bridge, the donkey broke loose, fell into the river, and the donkey drowned. Aesop’s moral: You simply cannot, cannot, cannot please everyone.
It is true! I have learned that you simply cannot please everyone. It is also impossible to always be politically correct. Why? Because sometimes it is best to be politically incorrect. Also what pleases some this week may not please them next week. It has been said, “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you cannot please all the people all the time.” As one deacon said to the pastor, “If you’re for it then I’m agin it.” Once a pastor and deacons all jumped into a car. It was the first time they had all been in one Accord. It could also be said, “Where two or three are gathered together there will be disagreements.”
A Baptist toast: “Here’s to you and here’s to me. If we should ever disagree here’s to me.” A wife said to her husband, “That is my view. Now let me give you yours.” Also, I have learned that God can use people who disagree with me. Folks, I have learned that you just cannot please everyone, but you can please God. “For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal.1:10). “By faith, Enoch was translated … before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). “Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6). May the Lord look upon our lives and be able to say, “This is my servant in whom I am well pleased.” When you please God you will also be pleased, and so will others. Learn: You can please God!
Thought: No God No Peace … Know God – Know Peace – TC
