The word “to please” came from the Latin word, placere, which means to be acceptable, be liked or be approved. It is related to the word, placare, which means to soothe, to smooth or make even.
Often, we mistakenly adjust our actions, thoughts and feelings toward something for the sake of convenience or solidarity. We thought that by doing so, we truly smoothen and made even the rough surfaces that are emblematic of the gaps that separate us from or affect our relationship with our friends, workmates, churchmates and even to our relatives and love ones.
In Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he said: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:1-3 NIV)
To please is a mandate given to all God’s beloved as an act of worship to the Creator. God must be the subject to please. It is NOT and should never be redefined as an act in conformity to how other people expect us to behave.
Our actions must be directed to please God alone – that is, to do our best to become acceptable, liked and approved by God. When this is done, the issue whether we are pleasing to other people becomes less and less important, and therefore, the need to please them equally becomes less and less important.
