#74: Fishing for the Praise of Man

Have you ever been around someone fishing for a compliment? It might seem like they are bragging about their accomplishments or rehashing all they have done for others but what they are really doing is looking for recognition. They may even try criticizing themselves hoping you will contradict them with a compliment. This individual is starving for praise and has come to you fishing for a compliment.

Wanting recognition or a pat on the back for a “job well done” is natural. I have experienced this desire. There is something inside of me that wants to know that I am doing well and headed in the right direction. Even in serving the Lord I want to hear that I am doing a good job. I desire to hear from other Christians that I am truly making a difference in their lives. But this desire comes with its faults. After reading the passages from my Bible, the Lord had me pause and contemplate the following verse:

John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

In the want of praise, I might be drawn to serving people, instead of truly serving the Lord. The praise from people is more tangible and present, but not more fulfilling than the praise that could come from my Lord. If I am serving the Lord, my decisions will be based on pleasing Him. If I am serving people, I will be motivated toward making them happy.

Did Moses struggle with this? It is possible that a desire for recognition motivated him to deviate from the Lord’s command. He was constantly receiving the brunt of the Israelites’ dissatisfaction. No one thanked him for leading the multitudes. No one thanked him for his wisdom. No one thanked him for his leadership; in fact, this was challenged on numerous occasions. Moses was human and so Moses needed a little encouragement; just a little recognition!

In Numbers 20 the Israelites were dissatisfied, AGAIN!

Numbers 20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

You can imagine that these men were tired of being the object of a multitude of complaints. No one recognized how hard they had been working. The Lord told Moses to:

Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

When Moses came before the rock with his rod in hand, his flesh might have been overcome with a desire to be recognized for doing something good. He smote the rock with his rod (a physical display to the Israelites of his personal efforts). Water came gushing out of the rock, but Moses had hit the rock with a flare of, “Look at what I am doing for you,” instead of quietly speaking to the rock and letting the Lord get the credit for the miracle.

Numbers 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

In the Lord’s eyes, He was not honored by Moses’ actions. By hitting the rock, Moses brought recognition upon himself. Moses might have been motivated by a desire to get just a little recognition from a hateful group of people, however, it was still an act against what God had commanded.

It is easy to see the rebellious nature of the Israelites. Psalm 68:6 says that “… the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” How true this is in this story. It even transcends Moses’ condition. His decision was born out of a rebellious disposition. It forced him to live in a literal “dry land” for the rest of his life and prevented him from entering the Promised Land.

It takes humility to by-pass the acquisition of human recognition for Godly praise. It takes wisdom and strength to act in such a way where we can harvest praise from the Lord when it is not offered from those around us. Satisfaction comes from knowing you did it the Lord’s way and you have His praise.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

When we have a healthy fear (reverence) for the Lord, we will desire for Him to get the glory and honor through our actions rather than making sure we are recognized. We will have a humble countenance. Reading in John 12 we come across a very sad situation that is the result of actions motivated by a desire for recognition and praise from man.

John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Many chief rulers believed in Christ, but “because of the Pharisees,” they did not confess the Lord. They would not admit that they had believed. Why? These were saved men who were paralyzed in their service toward the Lord because they were so focused on gaining and keeping the praise of men.

John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Letting your desire for recognition direct your actions can leave you in a “dry land,” paralyzed in your service to God. In seeking the approval of man, you will end up unfulfilled. Live and act the way the Lord has directed and be satisfied with his praise. There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing you have pleased Him.