The first two commandments tell us to worship no other gods and make no idols. But Scripture does not merely tell us not to worship idols but it models ways to smash our idols. One such way is through mockery. The prophets continually expose the stupidity of worshipping idols through satire and derision. It is something we need to learn to do with our idols too.

Do not be a people pleaser like your peers around you
Don’t be terrified by the prospect of no likes on Facebook or bad comments on your social media feed or disapproving looks when you proclaim unpopular views.
Because that’s what the people around you are terrified by
For the habits of your peers are a delusion

Their opinions are merely words caught in the wind which will soon be blown away
They are the fruit of human beings who will before long be out of your life forever, soon you’ll have even forgotten their names

Their respect of you seems so important, foundational to your life that you have to rush around doing anything to get people to like you, never saying ‘no’, worrying how people will take your every comment, dwelling on how to please them, making sure your reputation will not totter.

Like a celebrity on TV are they. All looks but no substance. They can’t control your life, they are insecure and craving your approval too. Do not fear them, For they cannot change the future God has for you nor do they have the power to bring you true happiness.

There is none like you, Jesus. You are truly great, you can truly control my life and determine my future.

You’re the only one who deserves to be feared, for you rule over every earthly power and authority – over every person I fear and every opinion I worry about.
No expert or professor or counsellor or boss or leader or pastor or Facebook friend understands me and understands my life and my future like you do.
In all their seeming wisdom, none of them is anywhere like you.

For people-pleasing and co-dependency is stupid and foolish. It is a habit of delusion – other people’s opinions are words in the wind which will soon be blown away.

They bring their criticism, their demeaning looks or their withering comments – they impose their will and out-argue my opinions in skillful ways. They feel impressive and more talented and gifted than I am. More decisive, smarter, they have better ideas, they care for others better, they think of things I never would, they dress better, they talk better, they look better, they earn more, and others like them more than me.

But Jesus is the true God. The one whose opinion truly counts. He is the living God and he has died for me to draw me to himself. He delights in me as his child and calls me to fix my eyes on him, the only everlasting God.

All these other people are temporary. They are mortals, like a snapchat message – in the morning they appear and a short time later they are gone again. God’s judgement of us means none of us can outrun death. He alone is the Judge. None of us can talk back to him or out-argue his opinion. If he declares me his child, if he declares that I am loved and chosen and delighted in, if he declares me victorious in life through his death and resurrection and if he calls me to live for his eyes only, to worship only him – then no-one can shout him down. His voice prevails. His love endures. I am his. I can live for him. For my peers’ words did not make the universe. But his did. Those I fear do not sustain my life. But he does. My breath does not come from my family. But from Him. My job does not come from my boss. But from Him. My relational status does not come from my friend’s opinions, but from Him. My appearance does not come from my parent’s will. But from Him. My past, my present and my future are in his hands.

People pleasing is stupid, ignorant and the fruit of believing in lies. It gets you nowhere and only leads to slavery. It gives you nothing but a temporary fix before the gaping hole in your heart needs filling again. Its attempts at shaming you deserve to be mocked, laughed at, scorned and refuted. For those who worship exclusively at this idol will die. They will suffer agonizing judgement for their stupidity.

But believers…those who belong to Jesus are not like this. For the Maker of everything, all I fear, all I desire, all I long for, all I wish for is Jesus. And I and the church are His. He bought us with a price. No-one can snatch us out of his hands. The Lord of everything is his name.