The truth is simple, but it’s easy to drift from it. We were created to live for an audience of One.
We live to please God, not people. Hebrews 11 gives us a powerful picture of what that kind of life looks like. In this chapter, we meet two men, Abel and Enoch, and the Bible says something remarkable about both of them:
God was pleased with them.
So what does that kind of faith look like?
What actually pleases God?
1. Priority: Giving God Your First and Best
The story of Abel in Hebrews 11:4 takes us back to Genesis 4, where two brothers bring offerings to God. On the surface, it looks similar. But God responds very differently. Why? Abel gave his first and best. Cain gave what was convenient.
“Abel offered to God a better sacrifice… he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts.”
This isn’t just about giving. It’s about priority. Abel trusted God enough to give first, even without knowing what would come next. Cain held back, keeping the best for himself. And that difference revealed their hearts.
This principle applies to every area of life:
- Your time
- Your worship
- Your resources
- Your attention
It’s not just about whether God is first in order, it’s whether He is first in priority.
“You can’t buy a house or a car giving your leftovers, and you can’t please God giving Him your leftovers.”
We all structure our lives around what matters most to us. The question is:
Is Jesus truly first, or just somewhere in the mix?
2. Consistency: Walking With God Daily
Hebrews 11:5 shifts our focus to Enoch, a man who didn’t just have a moment of faith, he had a lifetime of faith.
“By faith Enoch… was approved as one who pleased God.”
Genesis tells us something simple but powerful:
“Enoch walked with God.”
Not for a day. Not for a season. Enoch walked with God for 300 years.
Walking with God is not about big spiritual moments. It’s about daily faithfulness. It’s the quiet time when no one is watching. It’s choosing obedience in the ordinary. It’s showing up again and again.
“Walking is about daily living… it’s living for God in the ordinary.”
Consistency matters to God.
We all know how frustrating inconsistent relationships can be. And if we’re honest, many of us treat our relationship with God that way.
- We pray when we’re desperate
- We worship when we feel like it
- We show up when it’s convenient
But faith that pleases God is steady. It’s rooted. It’s daily.
“You will stand for God on the hard days if you are walking with Him every day.”
3. Destiny: Trusting God With Your Future
Abel and Enoch had very different outcomes. Abel was murdered. Enoch was taken to heaven without dying. Two completely different earthly stories, but the same eternal result. Both pleased God. Both lived by faith. Both are in His presence.
Faith doesn’t guarantee a certain outcome, it guarantees a certain destiny.
“The short-term outcome of faith may look different, but the eternal destination is the same.”
Hebrews 11 shows us this clearly. Some experienced victory, others suffering. Some saw miracles, others endured hardship. And yet, all were approved through their faith. One of the greatest dangers in our walk with God is comparison.
We look at others and think:
- “Why did they get that opportunity?”
- “Why is their life working out differently?”
- “What about me?”
Jesus addressed this directly when Peter asked about someone else’s future.
“What is that to you? As for you, follow me.”
That’s the call.
Not to compare. Not to question God’s plan.
But to trust Him fully.
“Comparison kills contentment.”
God knows what He’s doing. He has a plan for your life, and it’s different from anyone else’s. Faith that pleases God is faith that trusts Him with your future.
The Question We All Must Answer
At the end of the day, this message brings us back to three simple but searching questions:
- Is Jesus your priority?
- Are you walking with Him consistently?
That’s the kind of faith that pleases God. Not perfect faith. Not flashy faith. But faithful, steady, surrendered trust. When you live that way, your life will speak long after you’re gone.
“You preach your own funeral by the way that you live.”
So live for an audience of One. And live in a way that pleases Him.
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.
