In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

In the verse above, we are called as Christians to live out the faith we profess to possess. Our lives should be lived out in such a way that the world, in seeing our good works (godly lifestyles), would give glory to God.  As it is often the case, this verse is not about pleasing the world, neither is it about us trying to look good to the world, but about living godly lives that bring glory to God.

As Christians, our faith is not measured by how much people like us or think about us, it is measured by how our lives brings glory to God. A life that brings glory to God is a life that is obedient to the word of God. A life that loves what the Lord loves and hates what He hates.

There is nothing in scripture that calls or encourages Christians to live to please the world around them, instead Scripture warns us that if we live godly lives, the world would hate us. Jesus made this clear in John 15:18-19:

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Living for Christ is not a call to strive for the world’s approval, but an admonition to glorify God with our lives. 

Scripture however does encourage us to go the extra mile for other believers in Jesus.  

Galatians 6:10 – “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (emphasis mine)

We are to do good to all *especially* to those within the body of Christ. Part of living lives that glorify God is really going the extra mile for other believers.  

As Pastor John MacArthur said in his commentary on the above verse, “Our love for fellow Christians is the primary test of our love for God”.