Introduction: One of the great battles that we face in the Christian life is the battle with concern over what other people think of us. This can be a battle in the realm of what we seek — we want a person or a group of people to be pleased with us, or to respect us. This can be a battle in the realm of what we sense — we are bothered by what we sense (or in some cases know) a person or a group of people thinks of us. This can be a battle in the realm of satisfaction — to be content with human approval, as if human approval equates to divine approval. This can be a battle in the realm of self-condemnation — to consider ourselves condemned due to the perspective others have of us, as if human disapproval equals divine disapproval. CAN WE ENTRUST OURSELVES TO GOD? CAN WE BE SATISFIED WITH GOD? I’ve often thought about the fact that — on one hand — it is a much more fearful thing to fall into the hands of God than the hands of men. Men can only destroy the body, but God can destroy body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). But, in a different way, I would rather fall into God’s hands. God is more faithful, compassionate, understanding, patient, hopeful, and forgiving, than men. What we all need is what Paul displays as a mature shepherd in these verses. He displays an understanding that sets him free to serve Christ. It is also an understanding that sets him free to faithfully love and shepherd a congregation. You are not free to serve Christ until you are free from seeking to please people. ESV Galatians 1:10 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. ESV Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. I warn us, however, at the outset of this sermon (I’ll visit this again at the end), that are dangers — TREMENDOUS DANGERS — that exist on both sides of this truth. On one side of the truth on this issue, we end up living our lives for man’s approval. This is the issue that we will address today. On the other side of missing this truth, there is the danger of thinking that all that matters is your self-assessment. The danger of pride. The danger of the absence of self-examination. The danger of an unapproachable, stubborn, kind of life that refuses godly influences that might be used to save you from yourself and your sin. SO, THE ONLY THING THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE TODAY, AS THE OUTCOME OF LEARNING THESE VERSES, IS THAT OUR GOD WOULD ENABLE US TO LIVE WHAT IS TRUE. To avoid one error only to fall into the ditch on the other side of truth would do us no good. May our God teach us a freedom that allows us to serve Christ, BUT NOT an attitude that turns a deaf ear to the right kind of human influence. • THE BACKGROUND (2 Corinthians 10) The 10th chapter of 2 Corinthians marks the arrival of a change in tone on the part of the apostle. IT IS A PASTORAL EXHORTATION. It is like the pleading of a parent who would rather a child LISTEN and obey than have to be disciplined. It is the warning of a shepherd who desires to rescue from wolves even at a time when the wolves have poisoned the sheep against his shepherding. He is addressing the dangerous and slanderous influence of false teachers in the life of the Corinthian church. Men making the claim to apostleship. 2 Corinthians 11:4–5 (ESV) 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. Paul has become their mark. For if they can nullify Paul’s influence, they GAIN the influence they want in the Corinthian church. • THE CHARGE (vs.10) They attack Paul from several different angles, but the one that he answers in these three verses is the charge that he is one kind of man in his letters and another kind of man in person. There is, in this charge, an attack on his abilities. THEY CONSIDER HIS ABILITIES (measured by their standards) AS A COMMENTARY ON HIS AUTHORITY. His letters are weighty (they cannot deny that), but his appearance is weak and his approach to oration is worthless. THESE ARE STRONG, PERSONAL, INSULTING, STATEMENTS. But what they charge includes something insulting at the level of CHARACTER. It is one thing to insult someone’s appearance and abilities, it is another thing to attack their character. NOTE: From the standpoint of the person being attacked, charges about character might be the most paralyzing — debilitating.