Loving . . . or Pleasing?
In my online class this week one of the discussion questions was, "Being as practical as possible, describe the difference between a people-lover and a people-pleaser." That was challenging . . . because it's so easy to be a people-pleaser instead of a people-lover. My answer challenged me! haha. :) So I thought I'd copy it here . . .
Practically? People-lover's are joyful, people-pleaser's are stressed. Maybe not always, but most of the time!
See, people-lover's, love unconditionally--they love because God loved them first, and He has commanded them to follow His example. They love out of an overflowing of the love God has poured out into their lives. And it shows--they're cheerful about loving and they extend that love to everyone they meet. They don't care how that person treats them, just that they have the opportunity to shower God's love on that person.
On the other hand, people-pleaser's love because of what they'll get out of it. They're unhappy unless the people around them express to them that they feel loved and happy. People-pleaser's live for people's pleasure, and ultimately for their own. But people are finicky creatures, and that's why people pleaser's almost always end up stressed. It's impossible to please everyone at the same time, and it's usually impossible to please just one person all the time as well! People pleaser's want you to be happy, but not because they love you--because they love themselves.
Practically? People-lover's are joyful, people-pleaser's are stressed. Maybe not always, but most of the time!
See, people-lover's, love unconditionally--they love because God loved them first, and He has commanded them to follow His example. They love out of an overflowing of the love God has poured out into their lives. And it shows--they're cheerful about loving and they extend that love to everyone they meet. They don't care how that person treats them, just that they have the opportunity to shower God's love on that person.
On the other hand, people-pleaser's love because of what they'll get out of it. They're unhappy unless the people around them express to them that they feel loved and happy. People-pleaser's live for people's pleasure, and ultimately for their own. But people are finicky creatures, and that's why people pleaser's almost always end up stressed. It's impossible to please everyone at the same time, and it's usually impossible to please just one person all the time as well! People pleaser's want you to be happy, but not because they love you--because they love themselves.
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