“I started to realize when I was coming out of the world to follow Jesus, just how much our culture praises men, and we as a people have started to do everything for the praises of men. Some things we even do, not even because we just enjoy but because other people are watching. People will do things dangerous and post that online, not because they even wanted to do it, but because they thought it would look cool and they would get a lot of views….”
Don’t Live for the Praises of Men
Oct 5, 2019
Don’t Live for the Praises of Men
I started to realize when I was coming out of the world to follow Jesus, just how much our culture praises men, and we as a people have started to do everything for the praises of men. Some things we even do, not even because we just enjoy but because other people are watching. People will do things dangerous and post that online, not because they even wanted to do it, but because they thought it would look cool and they would get a lot of views if they posted it on their Facebook. How many, for example football players do you think would continue to play football and just enjoy throwing that football around if they had NO FANS, if NO ONE WAS WATCHING? How many people do you think would even play professional sports if they didn’t get payed (or no one watched)? See, a lot of things are only for the glory and pleasure of MEN, it has nothing to do with anything everlasting, anything true of Jesus Christ. People are only doing things for others approval, for money, for the glory of men, so they look good in front of other people. We really need to check our hearts here to see if we are really living for the truth of Jesus Christ, for His everlasting purpose for us, or if we are just living to make other people think that we are something special. When I say that out loud it sounds ridiculous, but truth be told, most are living for what other people THINK, so that others will think that they are something special. Are we really living for Jesus that we may be perfect before Him, that HE may approve of our life? Or are we living to try to make other people think that we are something special when we are not, when we are just chasing after the world, chasing after people’s praises. Also, truth be told many organizations are giving so that others will see how big of a philanthropist they are, they are giving so their organization can be seen on TV and people will clap and they will say; “What a wonderful organization, they give so much…” I’m not saying that these organizations should quit being generous, but we NEED to check our intentions to see if we are doing things for the glory of GOD or the glory of MEN. I want to read to you what Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Also, when we pray Jesus says; “You shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and you Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” So the question is, are we really praying to Jesus in secret? Are we really doing things in secret to be rewarded openly by our FATHER IN HEAVEN? Or are we doing everything just to be seen by men, so that men will say; “He’s a really great person, he’s so wonderful, he is so spiritual, he is so athletic, he is so this so that…”? Are we doing everything to be praised by men? Or are we really DRIVEN by the Spirit of GOD that everything we do may be approved by our Father in heaven? Really check your intentions and see who you are living for. May the grace of Jesus be with you.
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