This word study on ‘please’ will highlight the scriptures teaching on the concept of pleasing God and show the desire to please God in our actions is a reflection of a believing heart in right relationship with Him.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Heb 11:6)
What does the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology say?
Verb: ἀρέσκω (aresko), GK 743 (S 700), 17x. aresko means “to please,” usually through service, which can be holy or shameful, depending on the state of one’s heart. The broad range of use of this verb can be seen by comparing its use in a sensual context (the dance of Herodias’s daughter, Mt. 14:6; Mk. 6:22) with its noble and honorable use for soldiers who want to earn the approval of their officers (2 Tim. 2:4).
Concerning the duty of believers, aresko is used of both human beings pleasing God or other human beings through service. Focusing on the vertical aspect, Paul says, “I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. … The married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband” (1 Cor. 7:32–34, ESV). The verb here clearly refers to pleasing through service, with a priority given to pleasing God (see also Rom. 8:8; 1 Thess. 2:4; 4:1).
For Paul, horizontal aresko is a plumb line for where the heart is. He says, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself” (Rom. 15:1–3, ESV). The believer’s goal should not be to please himself or herself by selfish service, but to selflessly serve both God and neighbor. And Paul is only asking what he himself attempts to do, as he says, “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33, ESV). Yet, when the heart goes awry, even serving others can come from the motive of selflove, and aresko becomes a shameful motive (Gal. 1:10). (See NIDNTT-A, 69)
Introduction
The scriptures typically make a distinction between the sinners and the righteous. The righteous are those who have been saved, forgiven by God and are in relationship with Him like a father with his children. They give evidence of their saving relationship by the ongoing practice of righteous and good deeds. Where they do sin, they typically repent and their sin is forgiven, so as a result of both their repentance, God’s forgiveness and their obedience, God regards them as blameless.
Sinners cannot please God
Our study on pleasing God however must start with the plight of sinners and their willful rejection of him and His law. The scriptures tell a story which says there are many who do not please God.
5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. (Gen 6:5–6)
This statement comes early on in the story of the bible, but it is a reflection of what continues on through it. Sin is displeasing to God, it angers and grieves him to his heart. Paul much later explains sinners are in the flesh and cannot please God.
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:7–8)
This statement has universal implications (and likewise Heb 11.6 above) for all those who continue to reject God and Jesus as the risen Saviour and Lord. Regardless of however good they think they are or what they have done, none of it will please God unless they get their heart problem and relationship problem with him fixed. Paul even goes so far as to deny any unregenerate person can even do anything good (See Westerholm here).
God’s responses to various actions
These passages also highlight that God’s wrath and grief are a response to sin. Not part of his immutable character. God is angry at sin because he is holy and just. God is grieved at sin because he is loving and cares for his creation.
The flip side is also possible. God responds in pleasure to whatever is good because his intention for creation is to have a harmonious relationship with him. God loves righteous and good deeds.
Old Testament Prophecy
The story of the bible points to an individual who would please God.
42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights [is well pleased];
I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isa 42.1-2; cf. Mt 12.18)
Isaiah’s prophecy anticipates the coming of the servant, the promised Christ (anointed king) of God who will have His Spirit and bring forth justice for all nations.
Jesus pleases God
When Jesus appeared on the scene, a number of events showed He was the promised Christ Isaiah prophesied about. In the Gospel Jesus pleased God.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3.16-17; Mk 1.11; Lk 3.22)
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt 17.2-5)
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (Jn 8.28-29)
God the Father praises Jesus by saying he is pleased by him. In large measure, Jesus pleases God because of their special Father – Son relationship. I know fathers are normally captivated by their children. Yet also implied in these and in the third passage is the ‘like father like son’ relationship. This suggests Jesus lives in a way that is pleasing to His father as well by doing things His father likes.
So Jesus stands out as different from all. He is the promised Christ who pleases God. In my opinion, pleasing God and having right relationship with him can only occur if we believe Jesus to be Lord (therefore give him our allegiance) and receive the forgiveness for our sin that comes from his atoning death on the cross.
God is pleased with his people
Okay, so what about believers? Can they or do they please God? The answer the scriptures gives is yes.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Lk 2.14)
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable [euarestos; pleasing] to God and approved by men. (Rom 14.17-18)
‘My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him’. (Heb 10.30)
Scripture indicates that God is indeed pleased with his people. Not all people, but those those whom he has chosen, saved, forgiven and who now faithfully serve him.
How to please God
So following from God’s miraculous salvation of his people, how do believers in Jesus please God?
God’s Work
The scriptures suggest that both God and man are involved in the thoughts and actions that please God. We please God because God is himself working in us by His Spirit. It is God’s work of the Spirit in the believers heart that enables them to do anything pleasing to God. Paul recognises this;
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1.9-10)
Paul tells his audience that he asks God to fill them with ‘knowledge of his will’ and ‘spiritual wisdom and understanding’. Having this knowledge and wisdom, which comes from God, the believers are enabled and equipped do God’s will. If a person doesn’t know what God wants, how could they possibly do something that will serve and please him? Paul recognises this and pleads with God in order that they may know how to please God.
Hebrews is similar, however here it seems God is pleased with his work in believers.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20–21)
God is pleased when his people are equipped to do good. The equipping comes from God himself. Like a master craftsman – the work for which he is pleased is what he is doing in his people.
Jesus and the Apostles Instructions
God’s work is in the background in all the instructions Jesus and the apostles give to believers. Here it is assumed by the apostles that believers are equipped and responsible to do God’s will.
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. (1 Thes 4.1-2)
Paul’s ministry to new converts included instruction on how to walk and please God. Having instructed them and seeing them walk accordingly he recognises they do please God and will do so more and more. Paul says his instructions come ‘through the Lord Jesus’ which reminds me of the great commission.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28.18–20)
Jesus is pleased when his disciples obey his commands. This is a necessary part of Christian life (cf. Jn 15.10,14).
Lifestyle
Paul’s instructions for how believers ought to ‘walk’ can be understood as their lifestyle. Paul gives a brief description of the kind of lifestyle that pleases God when he gives instructions for what to pray for.
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions,
that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2.1–4)
Paul does not say people have to be famous to get God’s notice and please him. Rather its a peaceful, quiet, godly and dignified lifestyle that God finds pleasing. I find this quite encouraging.
Good Works
Paul of course understands good works to be pleasing to God. (See my word study on ‘Good’ if your interested.)
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1.9-10)
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Heb 13.16)
I’ve already mentioned the Col 1.9-10 with respect to God’s work in filling believers with knowledge and wisdom. In this instance I’m focusing on the fact that Paul says, ‘walking in a manner worthy of the Lord’ and ‘bearing fruit in good works’ is ‘fully pleasing to God’. Likewise the author of Hebrews commends doing good because ‘such sacrifices please God’.
(Note: Some might think no person anywhere could please God in their actions because, quoting Isa 64.6, they assume everyone’s deeds are like menstrual rags. Clearly the passages I have been quoting above contradict that understanding. The Isaiah 64.6 passage I suspect is not meant to be universalised. Rather it depicts Isaiah’s lament over a specific people in a specific time.)
The good deeds of a believer is a fairly broad description of what pleases God. Paul occasionally is a bit more specific.
I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Phil 4.18)
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. (1 Tim 5.4)
Paul describes their financial support of him and his gospel ministry pleasing to God. Paul also commends supporting one’s parents as pleasing to God as well (cf. 1 Tim 5.8; Eph 6.1-2).
Gospel Ministry
Paul describes his gospel ministry as pleasing to God.
2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. (1 Thes 2:1–5)
Paul’s motive in preaching the gospel is to please God. Which is a bit part of the reason why he is careful to preach in a honest and sincere manner. I assume this broadly applies to anyone involved in gospel ministry.
Why please God?
Matters of the heart are really important. I feel one of the most basic responses to the love and grace God has shown us in Christ is to want to please him. After all God has done for us, sending Jesus to die for our sins, bringing us into his family and giving us new life, how could a person not want to respond in thankfulness and obedience? When God sees a person respond in thanks and obedience to his saving grace how could he not be pleased with what he has done?
This being said I found the scriptures highlight three main reasons why believers should want to please God.
- Because we are his servants and that’s what servants ought to do,
- Because we are going to be judged according to what we have done, and
- Because we believe God rewards those who seek him out.
God’s Servants
Have you ever heard the following verse?
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Mt 25:21)
While the verse does not explicitly refer to the masters (God’s) pleasure, I think the statement made by the master communicates his pleasure with his ‘good and faithful servants’. The same thought is carried in the following.
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. (Gal 1.10)
2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Ti 2:1–7)
For Paul, believers are in service to the Lord, and their primary duty is to seek to please their Lord by serving him. So here is one reason why believers ought to do things in order to please God. Because we are his servants. It’s our job.
Future Judgment
In large measure the following two. Being judged and rewarded are discussed in my page on Future Judgement and Salvation.
In conjunction with his gospel ministry, Paul refers to Jesus’ coming judgment according to works (cf. Mt 16.24-28; Jn 5.26-29; 25.31-46; Rom 2.6-11; 2 Cor 5.9-10; Gal 6.6-10; 1 Pet 1.13-19; Rev 20.11-15). While he is directly speaking about himself and the other apostles in their gospel ministry (this is who he refers to when he says ‘we’), the passage broadly applies to Christ’s judgment of all people.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we [apostles] make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we [apostles] persuade others. (2 Cor 5.6–10)
‘Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others’. Paul’s gospel ministry is intended to please God in the hope of receiving a favourable verdict when Jesus judges him. Paul has earlier commented on this judgment saying;
4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted [δικαιόω, justified]. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Cor 4:1–5)
We also aim to please the Lord because we will be judged by him. If we are ‘found faithful’ we will be justified (cf. 1 Ki 8.32; Mt 12.37; Rom 2.13). He will give back to us what we are due. Whether good or evil.
(Note: How this works out with sin, repentance and forgiveness is unclear. What is clear is that Jesus’ judgment takes into account a person’s good works as well as their bad. I assume believers have access to God’s forgiveness achieved by the cross and will have a life full of good works which are typical of people with working/living faith. I talk about this in more detail in the page I refer to above.)
Rewards
The author of Hebrews says without faith it is impossible to please God. He then explains what he means by faith.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Heb 11.5-6)
The author describes the faith that is pleasing to God as one which ‘believes that God exists’ and also believes that God ‘rewards those who seek him’. Thus in part, the very belief that God will reward us when we seek him is pleasing to Him. I suspect the belief is driven by awareness of the God’s generous character. God loves it when believers expend energy to seek him out. I’ve done a word study on rewards here.
Warning
Sin does not please God. The picture I have given so far is fairly positive. But just as there is a positive side to pleasing God, believers ought to be aware that their sins displease God. A famous example is when King David, committed adultery with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and had him killed to cover it up.
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. (2 Sam 11:26–27)
David and his kingdom suffered some serious consequences as a result of this sin. Our sins grieve God and His Spirit within us.
The next example needs to be read in context to understand.
5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Eph 5.1-11)
Paul is giving his audience instruction in how they ought to live and what sins they should avoid at all costs lest they be denied entry into the kingdom of God. In this context he says, ‘try and discern what is pleasing to the Lord’. Clearly this requires receiving the apostles instructions, reading scripture, ongoing reflection and prayer. Paul says believers ought to spend this effort and live a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.
Conclusion
Hopefully you have seen from this word study that continually seeking to live a life that is pleasing to God is quite intrinsic to what it means to be a Christian.
The very ability to please God is predicated on the amazing grace he has given us in Christ’s death on the cross and his ongoing work through the Spirit which dwells within us.
Living a life pleasing to God is the proper response to experiencing His grace in Jesus. It is how we ought to live as his servants. It is the way we prepare for future judgment. It is an expression of our belief that God is generous and loves to be sought out. Seeking to please God is foundational to our ethics.
Above all we ought to strive to live according to God’s will because this brings Him pleasure.
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