Last week I gave you lists of indicators that would help you determine if you are seeking approval and/or praise from man or from God. I hope you read them carefully and have taken time to consider your heart honestly in this matter over the past few days.
If the Lord wills, over the next few weeks I would like to dig into the verses that help us better understand that we can receive glory and praise from God and we can and should learn to love receiving His praise and glory more than any praise or glory man may offer.
Throughout this study I would like you to ask yourself:
Does my life express more of a love for the glory that comes from God or the glory that comes from man?
Do I seek the advancement of my own name more than God’s/the Lord’s name?
In my personal bible reading I came across a passage that fitted so well with this topic and I thought it would be a good place to begin. While this particular passage is speaking about the people of Judah turning from God and trusting in themselves and their neighbouring Gentile nations (and their gods) for help, I felt it could also apply to this study. Consider these verses:
“Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places of the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5-8 NKJV)
You truly are cursed if you rely on man for your esteem and sense of self/well-being. Have you heard the phrase: “If you live by men’s praise, you will die by their criticism”? It is true that more you rely on man to lift you up and inform you that you are doing a good job – and nine out of ten may do that for you – you will be consumed with that one who either criticized, or worse, said nothing at all – you will forget all the good for that one who was critical or silent – and you will let it eat at you and provoke you, “you will inhabit the parched places of the wilderness” – if only in your mind – allowing that one ‘negative’ to drain your energies, both mental and physical, so that you have less and less desire to continue doing the good you were accomplishing.
“How can you believe, who receive honour from one another, and do not seek the honour that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44 NKJV)
When we look to God and trust in Him, live humbly before Him, seeking only His praise – “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23) – we will thrive, “as tree planted by the waters;” we will not fear heat nor drought (the lack or absence of man’s praises) but continue to grow and develop fruit, inhibited by nothing.
Are you continuing to thrive, knowing God is pleased with your service, or are you wilting for want of man’s words of approval? Examine your own heart. You can change your habitual desire for man’s words to trusting, with quiet confidence, that you have God’s approval. Are you ready to try?
You can do it! So can I!!
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