You do something well and someone makes a point of letting you know. They take time and effort out to visit you and cheerfully praise and thank you -- how do you respond? Most of us, and I am certainly one, have trouble dealing with praise. We either shrink back and don’t know how to say thanks properly, or we get a big head and get all full of pride.
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Have you ever thought of how you handle praise? What about giving it; do you?
Have you ever thought of how you handle praise? What about giving it; do you?
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Proverbs 27 has a lot to say regarding our subject, for instance: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” We are never to draw attention to ourselves via what good things we’ve done. How do you go? I know this is a good barometer for me, and I like to reflect on this most days to check and ensure I’m not either speaking too well of myself, or seeking praise by doing things for the wrong reasons.
Proverbs 27 has a lot to say regarding our subject, for instance: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” We are never to draw attention to ourselves via what good things we’ve done. How do you go? I know this is a good barometer for me, and I like to reflect on this most days to check and ensure I’m not either speaking too well of myself, or seeking praise by doing things for the wrong reasons.
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The same chapter also says, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but a person is tested by the praise they receive.” This essentially contrasts ‘the court’ for both precious metals and human character viz Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. We are found guilty, in effect, for getting a big head when we’re praised -- instead, we’re to somehow deal with this praise in a humble, accepting way.
The same chapter also says, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but a person is tested by the praise they receive.” This essentially contrasts ‘the court’ for both precious metals and human character viz Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. We are found guilty, in effect, for getting a big head when we’re praised -- instead, we’re to somehow deal with this praise in a humble, accepting way.
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In another Wisdom book of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, it derides the value of praise altogether: “Then too, I saw the wicked buried -- those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.”
In another Wisdom book of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, it derides the value of praise altogether: “Then too, I saw the wicked buried -- those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.”
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Our mouths are designed ostensibly for speaking well of others, not ourselves. Praising ourselves is meaningless. We need to stiffly reject the temptation to wallow in our own vanities and victories, instead looking to the good that is to be found in others. Find someone to praise rather than swim in your own.
Our mouths are designed ostensibly for speaking well of others, not ourselves. Praising ourselves is meaningless. We need to stiffly reject the temptation to wallow in our own vanities and victories, instead looking to the good that is to be found in others. Find someone to praise rather than swim in your own.
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Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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