Approval

How Do We Know We Have YHVH’s Approval? YHVH’s Approval Comes Through His Word.

[The men replied, ‘Let’s attack! We have seen the land and it is very good. You should not hesitate to go and take possession of it. When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. YHVH has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!’] -- Judges 18:9-10. Just because the Danites successfully defeated Laish, doesn’t mean their actions were right. Their idolatry showed that YHVH was not guiding them. Today, many justify their wrong actions by outward signs of success. They think that wealth, popularity or lack of suffering is an indication of YHVH’s blessing. But many stories in the Bible indicate that evil and earthly success can go hand in hand -- see, for example, 2 Kings 14:23-29. Success doesn’t indicate YHVH’s approval. Don’t allow personal success to become a measuring rod of whether or not you are pleasing YHVH.

YHVH’s Patients is Not the Same as His Approval.

[Don’t you realize how kind, tolerant and patient YHVH is with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see how kind He has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?] -- Romans 2:4. It is easy to mistake YHVH’s patience for approval of the wrong way we are living. Self-evaluation is difficult and it is even more difficult to expose our conduct to YHVH and let Him tell us where we need to change. But as believers we must pray constantly that YHVH will point out our sins, so that He can forgive them. Unfortunately, we are more likely to be amazed at YHVH’s patience with others than humbled at His patience with us.

The Approval of Other People is not the Same as YHVH’s Approval

[Now some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowds into a murderous mob. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead.] -- Acts 14:19. Only days after the people in Lystra attempted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, thinking they were gods, they stoned Paul and left him for dead. That’s human nature. Yeshua understood how changeable crowds can be -- John 2:24-25. When many people approve of us, we feel good, but that should never cloud our thinking or affect our decisions. We should not live to please the crowd; especially in our spiritual lives. Be like Yeshua. Know the nature of the crowd and don’t put your trust in it. Put your trust in YHVH alone.

How Important is YHVH’s Approval? YHVH’s Approval Should be Our Highest Priority.

[Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have YHVH’s love within you.] -- John 5:41-42. Whose approval do you seek? The religious leaders enjoyed great prestige in Israel, but their stamp of approval meant nothing to Yeshua. He was concerned about YHVH’s approval. This is a good principle for us. If even the highest officials in the world approve of our actions and YHVH does not, we should be concerned. But if YHVH approves, even though others don’t, we should be content.

Do We Have to Earn YHVH’s Approval?

Galatians 2:19: [When I tried to keep the Law, I realized I could never earn YHVH’s approval.] -- Romans 8:39: [Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of YHVH that is revealed in Moshiach Yeshua our Adonai.] We cannot earn YHVH’s approval; instead, He freely gives it to us.

If YHVH’s Approval is not Earned, How Can We Receive It?

Hebrews 11:5: [It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying; ‘suddenly he disappeared because YHVH took him.’ But before he was taken up, he was approved as pleasing to YHVH.] -- John 3:16: [YHVH so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.] We receive YHVH’s approval by believing that Yeshua Moshiach is YHVH’s only Son and that Yeshua died on the cross for our sins so that we could have eternal life in heaven with Him. There is nothing else we need to do!

How Should We Give Our Approval to Others?

Romans 12:9-10: [Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honouring each other.] Loving and serving others affirms their value and worth as creations of YHVH.

What Are The Things We Should Not Approve Of?

Romans 13:13: [We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behaviour. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk or in adultery and immoral living or in fighting and jealousy.] We should not approve of anything that contradicts YHVH’s Word.

What Brings Adonai’s Approval?

Romans 3:30: [There is only one YHVH and there is only one way of being accepted by Him. He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.] -- Proverbs 12:2: [Adonai approves of those who are good, but He condemns those who plan wickedness.] -- Romans 2:13: [It is not merely knowing the Law that brings YHVH’s approval. Those who obey the Law will be declared right in YHVH’s sight.] Faith in YHVH and obedience to His Word brings approval from Him.

How Do I Properly Balance the Priority of Being Approved by YHVH With the Desire to Also Be Approved by Others?

1 Thessalonians 2:4: [We speak as messengers who have been approved by YHVH to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please YHVH, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.] -- Proverbs 3:3-4: [Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favour with both YHVH and people and you will gain a good reputation.] -- Romans 14:17-18: [The Kingdom of YHVH is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in Ruach HaKodesh. If you serve Moshiach with this attitude, you will please YHVH. And other people will approve of you, too.] We must live to seek YHVH’s approval first. Sometimes doing what pleases YHVH also pleases others, but that is not always the case. YHVH has many enemies who love evil more than good.

Why Is It Important For Me To Show My Approval of Others?

Job 29:24: [When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.] -- Proverbs 8:35: [When the King smiles, there is life; His favour refreshes like a gentle rain.] Your smile and words of approval may be the greatest gift someone receives today.