some people are just never satisfied

Do you ever feel like you are trying to sell lemonade to a fussy duck?

"We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn."

Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus makes a great observation here: some people are just never satisfied. They can want a happy song - but refuse to dance. Or funeral song - but not want to mourn. We can give people exactly what they need or want, yet they do not join in or receive it.

When we are discouraged because we've given our all to someone, but they have not responded in the way we hoped they would, it is good to remember that people were even critical of Jesus and John the Baptist. John didn't eat or drink normal food and they criticised him as having a demon. Jesus did eat and drink like others: and people called him a greedy drunk.

As Pastors, leaders, parents or workers, we can waste a lot of energy chasing after the whims of others. We can allow their issues to become our issues. Their criticism to be our criticism. We can give them programs, services, visits, opportunities, prayer, love, attention and more - but some people still wont participate. Offer small, it will be too small. Or offer big and it will be too big.

But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.

In the end though, the good and right things you do will be shown for what they are. Whether people accept you or your deeds in the short term is not the point. Our good deeds will one day be vindicated. Our faithful service in the name of Jesus Christ is what truly matters. Pleasing people is fickle and prone to failure. Pleasing God - now that's something of eternal significance.