1676. A Passion for Praise
A Passion for Praise
"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi" (Mat_23:5-7).
The Pharisee was not living for God and for His glory.
He was not able to say: "For to me to live is Christ" (Php_1:21).
He could not say, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."
He could not say, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal_6:14).
The Pharisee lived for himself. He was like Balaam, who ran after the honor and the wealth of Balak. He sought his own things, not the things of Christ.
He lived for time, not for eternity; for self, not for the Saviour.
There is much of this same spirit today; of it we must all beware. Paul said: "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal_1:10).
The Old Testament Prophet said, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not" (Jer_45:5).
The Lord Jesus made Himself of no reputation. He said: "I seek not Mine own glory:" and again, "I receive not honour from men" (Joh_8:50; Joh_5:41).
It would have been a wonderful sight for Christ to drop down from the pinnacle of the Temple. How majestic and how overwhelming, such a scene! The people would have at once acclaimed Him the Messiah! However, Christ never did the spectacular. He healed the sick, cleansed the leper, raised the dead, but in it all, He never sought the plaudits of the populace.
Let preachers beware lest they are beguiled into seeking big churches and big salaries, and the praises of men.
Let preachers beware lest they seek every one his own gain, from its own quarter.
Motives must be weighed. Even so noble a thing as giving our goods to feed the poor, or even our body to be burned must be done in love to merit, Divine approval.
If our aim is the praise and the plaudits of men we have our reward.
If we work for our own honor, is it not evil?
If we give for our own reputation, is it not evil?
If we have been seeking great things for ourselves, let us seek them never again.
A splendid young man told us recently that he was going to be a preacher. Quietly we asked him, "What kind of a preacher?" With a flourish of pride he said, "A big one." Just so. Such was the ambition of the Pharisee.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR