Here Are My Thoughts

READ: Proverbs 27

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.” (Proverbs 27:21)

Proverbs 27 contains maybe the most famous and oft-quoted Proverb, Proverbs 27:17-“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Because of the popularity of that verse, I decided against focusing on it in this post. Instead, I wanted to hone in on verse 21, because I find the truth it teaches to be interesting, and potentially something that can serve us if we understand it.

Maybe I want to focus on this Proverb today because it’s personal to me. I just know what it’s like to be tested by praise. As a pastor, most of my job happens in the public arena. I’m often up in front of people speaking, sharing, and teaching. I started speaking publicly when I was 14, and even though I was pretty terrible at it, people were always very encouraging and complimentary with their words. And it was intoxicating. I loved people telling me that I did a good job. I loved it so much that I started seeking praise out. I would go over my sermons or talks vigorously beforehand, making sure I could say everything perfect, so people would compliment me on my ability. I would base my feelings on my “performance” on how many people praised me and what they said.

But after several years of that, it became more exhausting than invigorating. When you base your self-worth on what other people say about your performance, all the praise in the world is never enough. I remember, vividly, when I was 20, coming to moment of clarity and realization that I didn’t want to be driven by the compliments of others anymore. So, I over-corrected. I started deflecting compliments, even if they were warranted. I literally asked people not to say nice things to me after I finished speaking. Sometimes, I even just flat-out avoided people. I felt like I had removed myself from the prison of praise, but after a while I realized that even this wasn’t the way to go about handling affirmation.

See, what Proverbs 27:21 teaches us is that praise, in and of itself, isn’t bad. The crucible and the furnace are used to refine silver and gold, to put it to use. In the same way, praise can refine us. The danger comes when we make praise the basis of our work. That’s where the testing comes in. Without our hearts in the proper place, praise can elevate our egos and warp our motives. Without being kept in perspective, it can loom too large in our lives. But it doesn’t have to. In proper perspective, praise can encourage us and speak the truth of who we have been created to be. 

That’s the place I’m working to get to in my life and work-and it’s been a 11-year journey up to this point. I want to keep praise in proper perspective. Accept it graciously and gratefully? Yes. Let it drive all that I do and accomplish? No way. Praise is too small a thing to run my life.

Same for you. Regardless of what you do in your life, you will be tested by praise. Examine yourself-why do you do what you do? Do you do it to gain the approval of others? Give that up, it’s not worth it-it’s an unachievable goal. Live to serve others and most importantly, your Creator. What He thinks of you is infinitely more important than the opinion of anyone else. And before you ever did anything for Him, He sent His Son Jesus to die for you-so you should already know where you stand with Him without you having to earn it. Let that lead you forward to do great things-even if no one ever tells you they were great.

-Brett