FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
I Don’t Really Care What People Think of Me
In Christian circles, it’s common to hear the statement, “I don’t really care what people think about me, I only care what God thinks of me.” At first glance, this can sound like a bold declaration of faith, signifying that a person is solely focused on pleasing God, unmoved by the opinions of others. However, while this sentiment comes from a place of prioritizing God’s approval, it may overlook the importance of how we relate to others in a Christ-like way.
There’s a biblical foundation for wanting to care first and foremost about what God thinks. Proverbs 29:25 reminds us, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Jesus himself cautioned against seeking the praise of people over the approval of God (John 12:43). For Christians, the ultimate standard is God’s Word, and our identity is rooted in Christ, not in the fluctuating opinions of the world.
When we stand firm in this truth, it frees us from living under the pressure of people-pleasing. The Apostle Paul echoed this freedom in Galatians 1:10: “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.” Paul makes it clear that we serve one master – God. The opinions of others should never cause us to compromise our faith or convictions.
Yet, while focusing on God’s approval is essential, there’s a risk that this mindset can lead to indifference or even arrogance. If taken to an extreme, this attitude can shut out valuable feedback or insights from others, which may be God’s way of refining us. Christians are called to be humble, teachable, and compassionate. Scripture calls us to live in community, to bear one another’s burdens, and to consider others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). If we dismiss what others think entirely, we may be closing the door on opportunities to grow and demonstrate the love of Christ.
Jesus provides the perfect example of balancing what God thinks with how we interact with others. He was wholly focused on doing the will of His Father, yet He constantly demonstrated compassion and humility toward people. Jesus didn’t compromise His mission to accommodate human approval, but He also didn’t dismiss people’s feelings or concerns.
As Christians, we are ambassadors of Christ, representing Him in all we do. Part of this representation involves caring about how we come across to others, not in the sense of seeking validation, but in how we reflect God’s love. Colossians 4:5-6 instructs us to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders” and to let our speech “always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” This means our actions and words should point others to God and be seasoned with kindness, patience, and understanding.
Another reason we shouldn’t completely disregard what others think is the importance of accountability in the Christian life. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Fellow believers – the men of Forge – play a critical role in our spiritual growth by helping us see blind spots, offering encouragement, and sometimes, correction.
When we care too little about what others think, we can easily fall into pride. God often uses the body of Christ to speak truth into our lives, and we should be open to hearing it, even when it’s uncomfortable. Always, our goal should be to honor God in everything we do, while also striving to be a light to the world. In doing so, we balance confidence in our identity in Christ with a heart that is open, gracious, and considerate of others.
To The Kingdom
Joe Bouch
