I want people to like me.

I want people to approve of what I am doing.

Am I the only one?

Is this right?

Maybe there is a difference between needing encouragement and needing approval.

We all need encouragement and its power is amazing. One of the Holy Spirit’s 9 gifts is the gift of prophecy, which is primarily for encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:3). There is nothing more motivating than when a loved one encourages us to do our best.

But often I seek more than encouragement. I seek approval.

If I seek man’s approval it can cause me to not hear God for myself.

If I do hear God for myself, and then others don’t think I should do it, what do I do then?

The Bible says that seeking the advice of counselors is wise. So we need to do this. But if we are dependent on man’s approval instead of just seeking wisdom it can be dangerous. We become prisoners to men’s thoughts instead of God’s leadings. Jesus felt that we could go too far in seeking man’s approval too.

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. – John 2:24-25

Have you ever lost out seeking man’s approval? What do you think is the balance?