ANOTHER REASON PAUL WAS CALM UNDER PRESSURE
Galatians 2:6 ESV
6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
Yesterday, we read that Paul was not motivated by trying to please people or gain their approval. The more we are motivated by pleasing God as opposed to trying to please people, the less pressure we find ourselves under. So often, the pressure on our lives is what we put on ourselves. The fear of not pleasing people can range from uncomfortable to tormenting.
In our verse for today, we see Paul also unmoved by influential people in the church. Paul had been out of the mainstream church in Jerusalem for fourteen years. He had not been involved in any church politics or power struggles. Paul had been with Barnabus and was focused on reaching the Gentiles in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Now, he was talking with James, Peter, and John, key leaders in the church. But Paul was not moved by their position or status of being apostles before him. Nor did he seem impressed that these men had walked with Jesus personally. Paul was not in awe of these men. So, the question begs to be asked: why was Paul so unmoved by people?
Verse six gives us the revelation that Paul had been given by the Holy Spirit. God shows no partiality. The NLT says, “…By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.” The Weymouth New Testament says, “…God recognizes no external distinctions.” The Amplified Classic says that “…God shows no partiality—He is not impressed with the positions that people hold nor does He recognize distinctions such as fame or power.” The picture is becoming clear that Paul was very impressed with God. Paul was endeared to the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was not enamored with people.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, one of the big topics he addressed early in his letter was the exaltation of people. The church at Corinth was dividing up into different factions around their favorite preachers. Some were for Paul, some for Peter, and others were fans of Apollos. And Paul was not having it. He did not want to be exalted himself and did not want any other preachers exalted. Paul knew that preachers were servants by whom people believed in the Lord. He was conscious of his office and calling to the Gentiles. But he knew that the only reason he was preaching the gospel was due to the grace of God. He stated that it was Jesus who was crucified, and people were baptized in the name of Jesus, not the name of Paul. Paul carried a solid revelation of what Jesus had done for him and the grace that was on his life to be a help to people. Paul did not think too much of himself, so he certainly did not think too much of others.
Later in this chapter, Paul speaks of confronting Peter to his face. Peter was being a poor example to the Jew and Gentile believers, and Paul called him on it publicly. His courage came from an adherence to truth not to a religious system or the posturing of men. The less fear we walk in, the less pressure has a foothold in our lives.
PRAYER
Lord, show me what Paul knew. That You do not show partiality. You are not impressed with position or power. And as long as I am looking to please You above all, I am on safe ground.