The Increase Sample

AARON CURRY

PLEASING PEOPLE OR GOD?

When you grow up playing football, you quickly learn that the key to moving ahead in your sport lies in pleasing important people with your performance. There’s nothing wrong with that, and working hard toward a goal can be very honoring to God.

The problem comes when we allow the expectations of the crowd to overshadow our love for God. So when the expectations of an entire city were placed on my shoulders, it brought me to a crossroads. It also taught me what real freedom looks like.

 I love what Paul says in Galatians 1:10. He can’t paint a clearer picture than this. In life’s biggest and smallest moments, we always have the choice to either please God or please the crowd. And when the two stand opposed to each other, we need to learn to choose God over people.

As I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve learned there’s so much freedom in seeking the smile of God. It’s a freedom I’ve learned to experience and embrace with each passing day. I don’t play in the NFL anymore, and even that decision was a part of pleasing God more than pleasing the crowd.

I share my entire story of the crowd, a city, the NFL, and God at The Increase website. Please join me there.