APPROVAL OF GOD

A new ticket-collector had been appointed at a suburban railway station & commenced his duties during a severe spell of wintry weather.

Being very conscientious, he insisted on all season tickets being produced as passengers passed through the gate of the station.

His predecessor had got to know most of the regular passengers & allowed them to pass without asking them to show their season-tickets.

After a few days, as the new ticket-collector continued to insist on all season tickets being shown, one of the travelers said to him one evening: “You're not at all popular with the travelling public, sir.”

Pointing to the Station-Master's Office, the ticket-collector replied: “I don't mind that. It's the man in there with whom I want to be popular; it's his approval that I desire.”

- (moreillustrations.com)

“You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me?”  – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:44 GNT)

“It is not the being seen of men that is wrong, but doing these things for the purpose of being seen of men. The problem with the hypocrite is his motivation. He does not want to be holy; he only wants to seem to be holy. He is more concerned with his reputation for righteousness than about actually becoming righteous. The approval of men matters more to him than the approval of God.” -  Augustine.