This verse makes every preacher, teacher, and disciple of God’s word shudder. Doing our ministry for an audience of One is a constant battle. In the first century, there were those who sought the Christian pulpit for the sake of gaining the ear of the audience rather than for the sake of pleasing God. There were those who spoke the message they knew would entertain or influence the crowd rather than speaking a message that would present the gospel of Christ.

There were always preachers who wanted to impress the audience with their eloquence rather than bring honor and glory to God. That problem existed in the first-century church and has continued to exist for every century that has followed. 

The best preachers, teachers, and disciples make a few enemies in the church. Why? Because they speak “not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” If you want to be an effective minister of the gospel, you must be willing to speak what will please God, not man.

The power to please God might come from these words: “We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” We have been given a high and holy possession, and now God has entrusted us to be faithful messengers of his plan of salvation. 

Wisdom is pleasing God. It is, therefore, foolishness to do the work of your ministry in order to please men. Nothing will alter your focus or your message more than caring what people think rather than caring only about what God thinks. At the end of the day, we want to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). If pleasing God is our goal, we will live wisely.