Our motivation matters when it comes to making good impressions on others. Based on 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, whatever we do should first and foremost be to the glory of God. When we care about the glory of God, we will also care about the good of people. Remember the greatest commandments, first of which is to love God. The second is to love people. Love for God spills over into love for people and would make us want to seek their good for the glory of God.
Seeking to Impress for the Right Reasons
When we’re trying to make a good impression on people to reflect God and His glory, it becomes about helping them come to know God better. For that to happen we must guard against two things.
1) not causing anyone to stumble (1 Cor. 10:32)
Sometimes we may have good intentions but what we’re doing isn’t always for people’s good. We may be sending out mixed messages, confusing people by what we’re doing to impress them. People may not actually see the Lord but rather just the non-essentials. We may end up watering down truth to make it more appealing, yet truth is what sets people free. It’s possible we’re robbing people of God’s best by focusing on making them happy when He wants to make them holy.
2) not seeking my own good (1 Cor. 10:33)
We may say what we’re doing is for people’s good, to draw them in and lead them to the Lord. Sometimes, however, if we’re honest, we may have to admit that it becomes about us. We boast about our programs, about numbers, and all that makes us look like a growing church. Can we honestly say, like the Apostle Paul said, “I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Cor. 10:33)
Discerning if Motivation for Making a Good Impression is Truly for People’s Good
We need God to search our hearts (Ps. 139:23-24) to honestly answer these questions.
- Are we seeking to make a good impression on others to help them or to help ourselves?
If we’re hoping to personally gain from it, our motivation isn’t pure.
- Do we want to make ourselves feel good or lead others to the One who is good?
When it becomes about feeling like we’re making a difference, the focus has turned inward rather than upward.
If we try to impress others for self-centered reasons, it becomes people-pleasing that leads to manipulation in order to get the reaction we want from them. When it’s no longer for the purpose of helping others (Rom. 15:2), trying to make a good impression fails to glorify God.
We walk a motivational tightrope. When we start to slip, we need to quickly refocus our steps so we stay securely on doing whatever we do for God’s glory and the good of others.