While listening to a prominent pastor, these words jumped out at me and immediately I felt compelled to focus on the thought for a while.

 

Disease to please? In an age of diseases gone rampant now, this one no doubt would not even make the bottom of the list. But then again, if viewed from a different perspective, perhaps it would be recognized in its true form.

 

When we consider pleasing, sometimes we put it in the realm of serving. Pleasing our mate, our friend, our parents, our employer, or anyone who we hold in high regard becomes our object of pleasure. And when true love and devotion are the bedrock, pleasing/serving can go hand in hand. 

 

“Don’t rock the boat” used to be a scapegoat phrase I personally often applied. Keep whoever was the object of the pleasure at the time happy. Make sure he or she was pleased with my performance.  Even though I never considered it a ‘disease’, in essence it was. It affected me more than the one I was focused on pleasing. 

 

The evidence of it being a disease was when I began to see its effects in my attitude, my emotional, and physical well being. Those whom I sought to please enjoyed the benefits of my actions, but as time progressed, and it began to take its toll on my personal well being, change became evident. 

 

As with any reaction to a disease, once we realize we have something detrimental to us, we begin to seek assistance.  When we allow fear to consume us, we act out of that fear, many times running from doctor to doctor, seeking counsel, diagnoses, medications, surgeries, whatever the doctor orders, to possibly help eradicate the disease. Sometimes any one of those will masquerade the disease, while not curing the ill. 

 

The same principle applies for the disease to please. Once it becomes evident that it is being detrimental rather than advantageous, diverse actions begin. Sometimes we look for an escape; something or someone to alleviate the stress  in a totally different realm. Escapism isn’t uncommon…when kept in its proper perspective it can even be healthy. The problem is, it is seldom kept within the confines of its initial purpose.

 

For someone who has the disease to please, in its early stages, as with any disease, it has little effect. The day to day routines keep one consumed with doing, rather than being.  Everybody seems happy and content with the disease.

 

When a disease, like the one Josh was born with, for example, is diagnosed, it shows very little progress. His day to day activities weren’t thwarted too much, as he could run, play, do things most kids could do. Even though this is perhaps a poor correlation to my subject matter, it seemed to fit at this point. 

 

As he grew older, it became apparent he was losing more of his vision and eventually began to lose his hearing. These losses produced stress, which made the disease worsen. In time, he began to look for an escape. He wanted to fit in, be cool, belong, so he sought out unfamiliar territory. As a result, there were consequences even greater than his physical disease.

 

Thankfully, in time, he rectified those choices and began to reap unfathomable benefits from a different realm. God became his focal point, and God healed his disease of sin. His physical disease is still very much a part of his daily life, even in greater measure, but the benefits of his spiritual life far exceed his disease. One can only wonder had it not been for the physical disease, if he would be where he is today. Only God knows. But as the psalmist David stated, “my heart followed hard after Thee, oh God.” Such is the case with Josh. He seeks to please the One to whom he will stand before one day and give account of this life’s actions. 

 

We are seeing the disease to please all around us every day. From Hollyweird to the back pew, from the west coast to the east coast, from Canada to Mexico, and all around the globe. How many, I can only wonder, though, can keep it in its true perspective-being ‘pleasing God.’ “…because we keep his commandments and do what pleases Him.” 1 John 3:22

The lack of such shows how the broad road and hell continue to enlarge themselves.

 

The disease to please can be detrimental, or it can be beneficial. We choose—

daily.

May pleasing God be the foundation upon which we stand, and all other diseases will succumb to His will. Not ours. 

 

D. S. Mullis