Does God Need to be Pleased?

After retirement several years ago, the Spiritual Director asked, "By going into ordained ministry, you did what God wanted you to do, didn't you?" 

"I guess?" I never saw it as a matter of pleasing God. But I hear that word "pleasing" God often in congregational worship- and have used it myself. I think of the absurdity of somehow the Lord of all the powers of the universe. 

As I read the Bible, there are responsibilities for living in a covenant relationship with God. You do this for me, then I will do this for you. You refuse to do this for me, then I will do bad things to you (and generations to follow!) * It appears God has little use for people who do not please.

The idea is clearly developed in Scripture, but so is the proclamation that, because of who God is, there is no need to please her if it were even possible: "The God who made the world and everything in it, God who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is God served by human hands, as though God needed anything, since God gives to all mortals life and breath and all things." Acts 17: 24-25 

Are we still talking about pleasing God?

What thoughts come to mind when you hear something about "pleasing God?"

• Living to keep the peace among family, with a parent, boss, or friend?
• The irony of trying please God who is supposed to love us unconditionally. 
• Getting something I want in return through bargaining, etc. "I need a favor."
• Guilt and shame in never measuring up. 
• The absurdity and arrogance of cajoling God. 

Considerations

1. Consider omitting references to pleasing God out of  prayers, etc. For Scripture texts, provide context. **
2. Indicate that our primary responsibility is to fulfill our purpose, to make good on the gifts God has given us. 
3. Teach the difference between transactional and transformational God-covenant. One is based on shame and guilt, the other on unconditional love.
4.  Measure intention- i.e., why be moral? Loving to get something we want in return is not about love. How do I love without any hope of return, reward or gain?
5. What effect do these words have on the listeners? How do others hear these words? 
6. What are the drawbacks of living to please others?

*Exodus 20:4-6; "You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments." The theme of blessings and curses is repeated in gruesome detail in Deuteronomy 28.

**Romans 12:1-2 NRSV states "I appeal to you... to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." In biblical faith, the people of God, are delivered from slavery. No one owns your body, you and your body now belong to God. Paul is drawing on the idea of acceptable sacrifices for the purpose of transformation, Like repentance or metanoia, transformation leads to a true discernment of one's gifts and an honest estimate of one's limits. (12: 3-8).