John 12:43 For they loved human praise more than praise from God.

What a sad but common commentary! So much of the time we live our lives for our human audience, performing in ways that we think will get us applause, when we should be living our lives for our Creator, the One who loved us so much as to send His Son to die for us. The ultimate reward for any true child of God is to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21, 23) Working for anything less is ultimately empty. From the human perspective, you could say that the ultimate reward is knowing that you have exercised your gifts and abilities well, for the benefit of all involved. That might bring earthly recognition, or it might not. We aren’t even the best judge of whether we have done that, because we don’t see the ripple effects that go out from our impact. Paul got it right when he said, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (2 Corinthians 4:2-4) If our focus is on the Lord, rather than on the opinions of those around us or even our own emotions, then we will have far more peace, and ultimately, far more success. Social media today has brought an epidemic of people completely caught up in the opinions of others. A sad number of people will do anything to get likes or even clicks, and they destroy themselves in the process. Psychologists are agreed that is a major factor in the steep rise in youth suicides. Such people are an extreme, pathetic example of what John says here.

I am certainly not immune to the opinions of others, but I have experienced such a gamut of them that I think I realize they don’t mean much. It’s been many years since I consciously shifted toward the goal of hearing the commendation Jesus mentioned in His parable in Matthew 25. Just recently I’ve interacted with a young woman who is very sincere, but she is something of an absolutist, holding to an ideal that she doesn’t realize even she doesn’t meet. I’m back to remembering, and agreeing with, something C. S. Lewis said, that when we get to heaven we will all discover we were wrong somewhere. God indeed tells us to be perfect, as He is perfect, (Matthew 5:48) but we don’t arrive at that until we are before His throne. I am to strive for perfection, and at the same time both receive God’s grace for my imperfection and extend that grace to those around me for their imperfection. That doesn’t mean excusing sin, but it does completely eliminate pride. I find myself praying with the hymnist, “God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power.” God’s glory is perfect, but we are absolutely in need of His grace.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Thank You for that young woman, and for the book she brought me yesterday. Thank You for the truth she does know, and for Your Spirit in her. I pray that she would allow Your Spirit to open her heart more to Your grace, for her own sake and for the sake of those around her, so that Your will may be done in and through her for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!