Seeking Praise From Other People




Jesus contrasts seeking praise from other people with seeking praise from God (5:44). When a person does something truly good, it is appropriate that praise be given to that one. The desire for fame and praise from people can be a powerful temptation to sin (Luke 4:5-8; John 7:1-10). At one level, it can lead us to do bad things so that others may approve of us. At a deeper level, the desire for fame can make us so self-absorbed that we lose sight of what is good and important in life: love of God and love of neighbor. 'Ironically, by seeking self-exaltation, we can make ourselves the slaves of others because we allow their opinions to determine how we should live. This temptation to seek human rather than divine approval is especially strong for those in leadership positions of any kind -occupational, political, religious, and so forth. Since the success of such leaders is often measured by how much people like them, it is easy for them to forget that they are accountable first of all to God and that their true value is the approval given by God. Jesus calls us to keep our priorities in order and to live life according to God, who is truth and goodness itself.


Daily Scripture Readings According to the Lectionary of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Friday January 22, 2021
2 Timothy 2:3-14; John 5:31-47

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