In his iconic classic The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald details Jay Gatsby’s desperate attempts to gain the approval of his beloved Daisy. Creating a world worthy of Daisy’s desires, Gatsby makes his life a stage in hopes of regaining her love. While not strictly autobiographical, the novel bears shadows of Fitzgerald’s struggles to be the man who would gain the approval of those whose opinions he valued most—his own and his wife Zelda’s. Fiction and real life collide when the expectations of those around both Gatsby and Fitzgerald eclipse their reality.
God remained a distant figure in Fitzgerald’s novel and life. But his temptation to live for others’ approval is a struggle most people face—even believers in Jesus. Few would choose to live in fear of others’ opinions. Instead, this unhealthy concern for what others will think springs from our fear of rejection.
Gaining the approval of other people, however, is not a sin. Luke 2:52 tells us that Jesus grew in favor with God and with others. Likewise, Paul sought “to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people” (Acts 24:16). The problem comes when we make the approval of others our goal.
Even the most godly will fail at times. And our opinions are often shadowed by our sin nature. Anytime we put our focus on fulfilling others’ expectations, we exalt their opinion over God’s (John 12:42-43). What matters is God’s evaluation of us (2 Corinthians 10:18).
Living a life to please others—even with the best of motives—is a false quest. Becoming a workman approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15) means living to please Him and assessing our motives and actions by the Word (Hebrews 4:12).
Only one opinion ultimately matters in life: God’s. His expectations of us do not change due to emotions or circumstances; He remains consistent and true.
More:
• Luke 16:15
• John 5:44
• Galatians 1:10
Next:
Is there anyone whose approval you feel you must have? How important is God’s approval to you?
pkcare777 on October 1, 2009 at 4:23 pm
hi Regina, this article is very good. Yes indeed, sometimes I struggle and fear that I might not please other people.Just lately, I would cover up myself so as not to displease my superior and I realized that I displeased God. Thank you for this reminder.
By the way, I would like to know from what specific book is the: If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too (v.18).
Thank you so much for sharing this article. God bless you and your family.
regina franklin on November 29, 2009 at 7:44 pm
My deep apologies for not responding sooner as to the reference. The scripture reading should be Romans 14:7-18. Blessings!
elisau on October 1, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I’m so glad that I logged on today. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite novels!!
Last week in my community group we were learning about Joseph and how he suffered throughout his life. From being sold off as a slave to his brothers, to ending up in prison his life was anything but easy. But through it all he never lost sight of who he was living for. From doing his job to the best of his ability, to saying no to his master’s wife’s advances; He lived his life to please God and God blessed him because of it.
I want to live a life like that! Ultimately, that’s what really matters, isn’t it? When we come to the end of our short lives here on earth and stand before God He’s not going to want to listen to a laundry list of excuses from us.
Matthew 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
regina franklin on November 7, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Lately, the Lord keeps bringing the story of Joseph to the forefront of my attention. When I am tempted to see only my circumstances or to view myself through others eyes, God reminds me that nothing comes into my life without first passing through His hands. Thanks for the reminder–we can’t choose our circumstances or how people view us, but we can choose our responses. Oftentimes God uses the pit and the prison as places of preparation for His calling on our lives.