Approval Addiction

Today’s focal scripture is Acts 12:3. But I would like to begin reading from verse 1 for context. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)” 

King Herod Agrippa wasn’t acting out of conviction or justice when he arrested Peter. He was acting out of approval addiction. After executing James and seeing how it pleased certain people, he decided to do more of the same — not because it was right, but because it was popular.

This verse is a sobering reminder of how dangerous it can be when our decisions are driven by the desire to please people rather than honor God. Herod’s need for applause led to injustice. And while we aren’t kings making life-or-death decisions, we still face the temptation to go against our core beliefs for the sake of acceptance. Whether it’s staying silent when we should speak up, going along with something we know is wrong, or hiding our faith to avoid judgment — people-pleasing can quietly consume our integrity.

Have you ever made a decision just to gain someone’s approval? Is there an area in your life where you’re more concerned with being liked than being faithful? How often do you seek God’s approval above all else?

Galatians 1:10 says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? ... If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Let’s be people who choose faithfulness over popularity, even when it’s hard. Because the applause of people fades, but the approval of God lasts forever.