The Praise of Man

“THE TREE BEARING PRAISE OF MAN HAS SHALLOW ROOTS.” “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matt. 6:1–4). Our hearts can be such wicked instruments, even at times leading to our downfall. Can you imagine the arrogance Jesus is describing here—people such as the Pharisees who, because of their position and self-induced righteousness, would walk around announcing their arrival? We truly must do all we can to prevent ourselves from falling into a similar trap. If we plan our giving and good deeds around the circumstances, we are walking in arrogance and on dangerous ground. True goodness has no plan to be fulfilled, it just is. Good people rarely plan on being good people, they just are. They tend to spend more time than most seeking the reasons for their failures and how to correct them, thus leading to even more good deeds. The joy of being rewarded by God is truly amazing. It’s not like a typical endorphin rush that lasts for the moment but rather a life-changing milestone that remains embedded in your heart and mind. The feeling you get when people pat you on the back for your good deeds is a very temporary rush with no lasting roots. The praise is as fickle as the ones who give it, and no one is more fickle or unpredictable than mankind. Think about how many times you have had people pat you on the back, sing your praises, and be your best friends only to have them ignore you and talk bad about you for no apparent reason. All too often, I would guess? So, why is it we seek so vehemently the praise of our fellow man? Maybe it is to compensate for the lack of parental attention or validation or possibly as a result of some form of abuse, but whatever the reason, there is a cure—the reward of God. You see, as I mentioned earlier, the reward of God is not temporary. When we seek His reward, we receive it, and it never goes away. I used to be caught up in what people thought until I experienced God’s reward. He changed me. He softened my heart, gave me compassion, taught me to cry, and gave me new and everlasting confidence, although I deserved none. Why, you ask? Because now He is the only one I seek to please. By seeking to only please Him, I have found myself and many others blessed as well. Be careful what you plan for or place your focus upon. Challenge your heart: it can either be a wicked and deceptive appendage or an instrument of tremendous blessing. † Lord, help us to search our hearts daily. Reveal to us those areas that need Your touch. Help us, Father, to seek Your reward, and let Your light to shine that the darkness in our hearts might be revealed. In Jesus’ name, amen. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, from the book "Jesus Paid the Price"