People-Pleasers
Sep 30, 2025 by Addison Crissone
A few weeks ago, someone asked me if I thought that they were a people-pleaser, if she thought or cared too much about what others thought of her.
I, of course, told her that only she would truly know the answer to that, for I can only see from the outside and an exterior point of view. She would have to examine her heart and chronicle her reactions and anxieties to truly know for certain.
Then I told her to turn to Luke chapter 10, verses 1-10.
This is the story that retells to us the story of Jesus' meeting with Zacchaeus, the tax collector.
If you have a copy of the Bible nearby, I encourage you to turn to this passage of scripture.
Verses 5-7 read as follows:
In verse 7, the townspeople who had gathered to hear Jesus grumbled when they saw Jesus' choice of a dinner companion, complaining that he chose to enter Zacchaeus's house. They looked down on Zacchaeus simply because he was a tax collector.
They called him a sinner.
And yet, we do not see or aren't told that he listened to their rumors, or even cared what they called him. He didn't try to defend himself or his name.
He turned instead to Jesus.
He looked to Jesus, conversing with him and serving him, and conversing with him rather than allowing the world's thoughts of him to steal the divine moment from him. He didn't allow the lies and rumors of the people to define him or tell him who he was in God's eyes. In Jesus's eyes.
Friend, we should do the same.
Jesus asked Zacchaeus to come down and allow him to enter his home.
Likewise, Jesus asks you and me to step down from the pedestals of self-worth and pleasure that we have placed ourselves on, and allow him to enter our hearts.
Zacchaeus did that- he did what was asked of him, and it was enough.
When Jesus asks to come into our hearts, it shouldn't matter what anyone else says or thinks about us- only Jesus. He is the one who gave his life to purchase ours; therefore, he has the right to judge and define us.
I, of course, told her that only she would truly know the answer to that, for I can only see from the outside and an exterior point of view. She would have to examine her heart and chronicle her reactions and anxieties to truly know for certain.
Then I told her to turn to Luke chapter 10, verses 1-10.
This is the story that retells to us the story of Jesus' meeting with Zacchaeus, the tax collector.
If you have a copy of the Bible nearby, I encourage you to turn to this passage of scripture.
Verses 5-7 read as follows:
"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him,
'Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today."
So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when
they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man
who is a sinner."
'Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today."
So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when
they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man
who is a sinner."
In verse 7, the townspeople who had gathered to hear Jesus grumbled when they saw Jesus' choice of a dinner companion, complaining that he chose to enter Zacchaeus's house. They looked down on Zacchaeus simply because he was a tax collector.
They called him a sinner.
And yet, we do not see or aren't told that he listened to their rumors, or even cared what they called him. He didn't try to defend himself or his name.
He turned instead to Jesus.
He looked to Jesus, conversing with him and serving him, and conversing with him rather than allowing the world's thoughts of him to steal the divine moment from him. He didn't allow the lies and rumors of the people to define him or tell him who he was in God's eyes. In Jesus's eyes.
Friend, we should do the same.
Jesus asked Zacchaeus to come down and allow him to enter his home.
Likewise, Jesus asks you and me to step down from the pedestals of self-worth and pleasure that we have placed ourselves on, and allow him to enter our hearts.
Zacchaeus did that- he did what was asked of him, and it was enough.
When Jesus asks to come into our hearts, it shouldn't matter what anyone else says or thinks about us- only Jesus. He is the one who gave his life to purchase ours; therefore, he has the right to judge and define us.
