"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (NIV)
This is the story of Paul's life in a nutshell. Paul spent the early part of his life serving himself and seeking the approval of the Pharisees by persecuting Christians. But then he encountered Christ and turned his life around. He no longer serves men, but God. A quote I like, though I am unfamiliar with the source, says, "People will think we are ruined if we live out the gospel. There is no higher calling than to be ruined for the gospel." Being a Christian is not a decision for physical well-being. It is an invitation for suffering. And it is with this knowledge that Paul boldly proclaims that only as a servant of God is he able and willing to accept that challenge. It's not a socially acceptable choice, but it's the best choice. ("Man" (ESV) can also be interpreted here as "flesh" or "sinful nature." We cannot serve both God and our flesh.)
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