Why could Paul say he did not serve men or seek to please them?
Paul was not financially dependent on anyone, so he was not beholden to men or afraid of losing support. He made tents when he needed money, leaving him free to serve Christ alone. Since pleasing men would disqualify him as Christ's servant, he endured suffering as a bond slave of Jesus Christ.
Les explains that Paul asks, “Do I persuade men or God?” and answers that he certainly was not serving men. Paul, like Les, did not draw a salary; he did not have to be beholden to anybody. If he needed money, he went out and sewed tents, so he did not have to worry about losing his pay or serving men. Paul then asks whether he seeks to please men, saying that if he yet pleased men, he should not be the servant of Christ. Les emphasizes you cannot serve both—you cannot please God and mammon. Paul’s willingness to suffer imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck, cold, heat, and nakedness was not for the sake of serving men but because he was the bond slave of Jesus Christ. Les ties this to Ephesians chapter 3, beginning at verse 1, as the whole motivation of the apostle.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
More Questions
Why was Paul not obligated to serve men or please people?
Paul did not serve men because he took no salary — he was not beholden to anyone and made tents when he needed money, so he never had to fear losing his pay.