Comments on: Not Meant For Praise

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:06:05 +0000

I hear ya there, yes it might be cynical but in my experiences that is the truth sometimes.

By: Jill

Jill — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:55:08 +0000

I think I just remember that as much as people love you they can just as quickly despise you. This from many years of church ministry. Cynical? perhaps but truth for certain.

By: brent(inWorship)

brent(inWorship) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:22:27 +0000

Yes! It is when we depend entirely on Him that our weaknesses are revealed. I hope He continues to send people my way so that my weaknesses can be tested.

By: Amy Elder

Amy Elder — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:18:30 +0000

I have found that being aware of the potential problem is the first step .. and then for me, God has usually taken care of it for me. He literally closed my mouth for a year due to TMJ … which made me so aware that it is His gift …and that none of the praise is for me … and then as a worship team member, as opposed to a leader … I’m left to wait to be asked to serve … and at times .. that requires that I remember whose gift it is truly … it is always humbling.

By: brent(inWorship)

brent(inWorship) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:14:58 +0000

Agreed Ash, humility is paramount. Where I struggle with it is when people believe they have worshiped or thank me for the worship, because they were pleased. Them being pleased with me has nothing to do with their worship of God. But I do not have a lot of control over that. I only have control over my own reaction to their thanks.

By: ash

ash — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:07:29 +0000

brent- ultimately when you please god, by using the talents and gifts he gave- you inherently please others and that is fine thing.

it’s worrying about whether you pleased them or not- that becomes the problem. do what you’re meant to do with a heart that is god aware, people aware and self aware…aka humility and the results will fall where they may….

By: brent(inWorship)

brent(inWorship) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:25:33 +0000

This has always been tough for me. Most of the time when I get thank you’s it has more to do with the fact that I pleased someone. I struggle with that. I am not trying to please someone. I am trying to please Him. But it is easy to listen to those thoughts and lose my focus.

Your right, our talents are not our own. we can choose who we glorify with them.

“I think I’ve been told, “great worship”, “good job today”, “your singing really touched me” and etc…thousands of times. I’m not trying to toot my own horn, just using it as an example.”

I’ve heard you, you can toot a bit

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:38:06 +0000

Yeah I agree with you. I wasn’t trying to say that you should ignore praises just that they need to be kept in perspective. Good thoughts Ash.

By: ash

ash — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:33:06 +0000

i once heard andrew womack say that when someone compliments you, praises you, say “thank you” and move on. i think that’s the only way to not get caught up in it. womack said he always hated it when someone would compliment a singer or preacher and that person would immediately say something like “oh it wasn’t me, it was the lord.” seriously? god gave YOU gifts and talents and while you may thank HIM for them, don’t be afraid to let it bless others.

i think the problem w/ celebrities is a bit different, they’re stalked, not just overly-praised. and most of them, esp if they’re not believers, don’t know how to handle their own insecurities, and even vie for the attn a little thinking that’s the answer to overcoming them.

again, just say thanks, and move on….