Proverbs 27:21
The
refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by
what others say of him.
Bible Reading for a Year [bible]prove4[/bible]; [bible]0john14[/bible]; [bible]ichro20-22[/bible]
How
do you respond when someone compliments you? Some people absolutely love
receiving praise because it lifts their spirits and makes them feel valuable.
Others are uncomfortable with it. They look down at their feet or offer reasons
why they really don't deserve such praise.
For
Christians, there's another dilemma. We're called to be humble. Because pride
is always waiting to raise its ugly head, we need to be careful not to let
praise puff us up. So what are we to do when others say good things about us?
Some
believers think that accepting a compliment is a sign of pride, so they make a
big show of giving all the glory to God. That's fine, if it's really what's in
their hearts, but too often it becomes a rote "Christian" response
that's geared to impressing others.
My
advice is simply to say, "Thank you very much." Then whisper a prayer
in your heart to the Lord, thanking Him for the blessing, recognizing that
anything worthy of praise ultimately comes from Him. If you felt encouraged,
let the person know how the comment blessed you. If you receive praise for an
achievement that was really a group effort, be sure to redirect the compliment
to all those who were involved. A blessing is always more enjoyable when it's
shared.
Our
character is tested by the praise that comes to us. (Proverbs 27:21). Every
compliment that bounces into our ears should quickly rebound up to the Father.
If we hold onto it, the poison of pride will begin to infect our hearts. But if
we pass the praise to God, humility takes up residence in our souls. –CS
Our character is
tested through our response toward praise.