Do You Work For God’s Praise Or Man’s?

             Affirmation is important to us. Regardless of our personality, gender, or culture, we appreciate hearing others tell us that we’re doing a good job. We value positive performance reviews in business, we cherish thoughtfully written notes, and our hearts are warmed by a well-placed comment. Social media companies like Facebook well understand the power of praise and tempt us to over-check their websites, searching for the “likes” and “loves” of our friends. Praise is certainly encouraging, but like many other beneficial things, it can become idolatrous and destructive if it is the driving force of our behavior.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), he takes direct aim at the Pharisees for this very problem. Members of this conservative religious sect sounded trumpets when they gave to the poor in the streets and synagogues, they habitually prayed in public places, and they did not maintain personal hygiene when fasting, so “that they may be praised by others” (Matt. 6.2ff). Instead, Jesus encouraged his followers to serve the Lord without fanfare, so that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6.4, 6, 18). Rather than forbidding us to look for any praise whatsoever, Jesus redirects our God-given need for praise back to our Maker. This is an infinitely more satisfying place to look for it!

No matter how much we might try to flaunt our deeds, there is no guarantee of human awareness or appreciation. Even if we do receive praise from others, it might be inadequately given or based on unrighteous evaluations. After all, the prophet Ezekiel was praised for his sermons, but only because he was considered a masterful performer, not because his audience was pierced by God’s words (Ezekiel 33.31-33). With God, however, we have an attentive Father who not only notices every good work we do, but also will not fail to praise us for them.

Later in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells a parable of three servants who were entrusted by their master with his property. Each was given an amount of money proportional to his ability to manage it. One of the servants squandered his opportunities to multiply his “talent.” The other two, however, both doubled the value of their allotments and were warmly praised by their master. Each man was told, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25.21, 23). Since this parable is in the context of the final judgment day scene pictured by Jesus (Matthew 25.31-46), Jesus’ faithful people can expect God to give them a similar welcome when they meet him on the eternal day!

With the persecution we can expect to receive as Jesus’ disciples (2 Timothy 3.12), we can also expect human disapproval. Soul-satisfying praise, however, awaits us in God’s eternal presence. Do you work for God’s praise or man’s?

Nathan