People-Approval

 If you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan, you may have woken up over the weekend to hear about one of the most stunning hires in sports history. The Dallas Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer, the former Offensive Coach for the Cowboys. This hire seems to have infuriated most of the Cowboys’ fanbase. Many think the Cowboys are no longer serious about winning. Fans seem disgruntled, ready to give up on their team.

I’m just wondering one question. How does Schottenheimer feel about the lackluster fanfare he’s receiving? Can you imagine reading all the negativity about yourself in the news? How do you think it affects him when people say it was a trash move to hire him? 

Truth be told, none of us would enjoy receiving all this negativity. We so freely share our judgments about others, but the moment we’re judged? Different story. It pains us deeply to be judged. So, why do we treat others this way?

We all need freedom from living for the approval of people. Check out this critical verse in Galatians: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

When we seek man’s approval, it is temporal, fleeting, and not lasting. People are fickle and can change their opinion about someone based on what they read or hear from someone else. Just think! We can base our opinion on someone knowing only half the truth! And we might be dead wrong. (For example, Coach Schottenheimer may end up being a fantastic coach!)

How does the fear of disapproval paralyze you from doing what you want to do? Schottenheimder said "yes" to the Dallas Cowboys coaching job, probably knowing the lackluster fanfare he'd receive. That took courage!

How can we seek God’s approval more than people? Seeking approval from people is enslaving ourselves to people. God says we can’t serve two masters. As we learn to be a servant of Christ, we become free from the suck of people's approval.

What if you were the new coach of the Dallas Cowboys? How would you respond to all this negativity? People will constantly change what they approve of ALL the time. Living for the approval of people sucks the life out of you.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.