Accepting compliments has always been hard for me, and it still is, but now when someone says, “Good job” or “Well written,” I try to simply respond with “Glory to God” or “Praise the Lord!” I am well aware that on my own, my talents are limited, but when God is working through me, all limitations are gone. This is true for all who follow and serve him, from Mother Mary to Jesus’s Disciples, and from the Angels to the Saints, and they knew how to redirect the applause to God as well.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ”And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” – Revelation 19:9-10 NKJV
In the Bible, every follower of the Lord God refused worship. They all knew where there strength, power and wisdom came from, so they appropriately redirected people’s accolades, honor and praise to God himself. They showed us that we are to keep our focus on God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and not get proud, conceited, or arrogant, as well as not get discouraged, downtrodden, or defeated when people instead show us harsh criticism, blame, or jabs at our beliefs. In short, we are called to be both UNAPPLAUDED and UNOFFENDABLE.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Why is it that people choose other people to either heap their praise upon or to heap their criticism upon rather than giving it to God himself, though? God created each of us and will turn everything to his glory regardless of the efforts of people, so that should change our perspective completely, right? Paul and Barnabas gave every accolade back to God and reminded the crowds all that God had done for them, and yet they had a difficult time stopping the people from worshipping them. Why do humans do this?
Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. – Acts 14:18 NIV
Others were highly critical and suspicious of them, and they turned others against them. They even nearly stoned Paul to death in their anger. Why do humans do this?
Why do humans revere those who we agree with or appreciate for something they do and then rip apart those who we are suspicious of or feel we need to compete with? Aren’t we commanded to be peacemakers and to love God with all out heart, mind and soul?
Focusing on what everyone else is saying, doing, or thinking is just a distraction that takes us away from what really matters for eternity… our relationship with our Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Let us stay humbled, encouraged, and grounded in the Truth of God’s Word as the noise in the world gets increasingly louder. God’s glory will be revealed through his chosen ones.