Being Put to the Test By Praise?

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m really being tested right now”? Maybe you’ve said that yourself a time or two. When we think of being tested, here are some things that come to mind: Financial difficulties. Health problems. Family and relationship conflict. Difficult, even insurmountable problems at work. A time when we have no choice but to exercise patience. Testing isn’t fun – at least not usually.

I was reminded of this during a recent quiet time when I read a curious statement about testing from the Bible. The passage, Proverbs 27:21, states, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives."

When we talk about being tested, it’s usually within a context of adversity or struggle. But have you ever been “tested” by praise? Can times when things are going great and seemingly can’t get any better become occasions for us to be tested?

Pat gently - don't
break your arm!

Actually, they can. How often have you heard of stellar athletes, famous entertainers, particularly young ones, or (dare we say it) politicians getting a “big head”? Sadly, far too often. Once-promising stars get caught up by the lavish praise they receive and end up short-circuiting their careers and falling to personal and professional ruin.

But we don’t have to be individuals whose names appear on celebrity TV or the gossip magazines to be tested by praise. At work our boss can praise us for work well done or high productivity, or we can be singled out for a prestigious award. It’s one thing to receive compliments graciously and feel the pride of accomplishment; it’s another to wallow in the praise and practically break our arms patting ourselves on the back.

In his acclaimed book, Good to Great, Jim Collins led a team of people that studied high-performing companies, seeking to identify their secrets. Initially they attempted to discount the impact of leadership, reasoning it’s too easy to give credit to leaders for an organization’s success. After a while, however, they realized the influence of leaders was an intrinsic factor.

Of particular interest was that many of the leaders of top companies shared two qualities: Unwavering determination and great humility. When commended for the performance of their organizations, the leaders typically adopted an “aw, shucks” attitude. More often than not, rather than absorbing the praise, they would respond something like, “Our people did all the work” or, “They could have gotten it done without me.”

There’s something endearing about people who demonstrate high character by remaining humble despite extraordinary success. Maybe we’ll never be CEO of a company that becomes an industry leader, but there’s still much for which we can receive praise. It might be a promotion at work, recognition for service in our community or at church, or even the achievements of our children. How do we react when showered with praise?

Another verse offers this advice: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). In other words, when others speak well of us, it’s best not to say – or even think to ourselves – “You’re right about that!”

But there’s an even better way to “pass the test” when praise and compliments come our way. We can accept the kind words, since they are intended as a gift. At the same time we can remind ourselves of the apostle Paul’s words, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), while also acknowledging, “Apart from Me (Jesus Christ) you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

What You Think . . . You Are

What are you? Who do you think you are? Has anyone ever asked you questions like these? Have you ever asked them of yourself?

We tend to define ourselves by our jobs, relationships, associations, beliefs, possessions, or status in society. Professionally speaking I’m a journalist, an author and editor. Relationally, I’m also a husband, father and grandfather. I’m a mentor to several men. I’m a fan of the Buckeyes. I’m a follower of Christ. Who I think I am can largely depend on what I’m doing at the time.

But recently a speaker challenged me on this type of personal assessment. He stated, “You are not what you think you are. What you think…you are.” Chew on that for a moment.

Our "gray matter" greatly dictates
who and what we think we are.

Years ago various writers and speakers began advocating the “power of positive thinking,” emphasizing the impact of a proper attitude on achieving success and enjoying life. But in terms of, “what you think…you are,” it’s much more than that.    

Consider the world we live in, which seems increasingly consumed by fear, distrust, animosity and discord. We wake up and get out of bed, anticipating a good day – then turn on the news and it’s downhill from there. Violence, political strife, wars and economic turmoil dominate the reports from around the world.

Unrest and protests have grown rampant among segments of society, at times tragically so, undoing decades of progress in race relations. This might be the greatest evidence for demonstrating that indeed, what we think…we are.

This is one reason the Bible puts such emphasis on what fills our minds. As Proverbs 23:7 declares, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” When we allow our thinking to be shaped without reservation by various external forces, we become what we think.

Paranoia is an extreme example, characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance. It’s a psychological dysfunction, no doubt, but persons with this condition act as they do based upon what they think. Similarly, if we harbor hatred, envy, hostility or greed, we manifest how we think.

Perhaps there’s a remedy to the current malaise that afflicts our society. Rather than allowing external factors to manipulate moods and beliefs, it might be a good step to realign our thought patterns. This doesn’t require a Pollyanna perspective about life, attempting to un-see reality. But just as a good photographer carefully and specifically focuses on subject matter he or she desires to capture, we also – by an act of the will – should redirect our mental focus.

The apostle Paul suggested a good starting point when he wrote to the ancient church at Philippi, apparently comprised of a lot of folks whose thinking had taken a bad turn. Paul exhorted them, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8-9).

Our world is broken in a lot of ways. Anyone that’s not aware of this simply hasn’t been paying attention. But that need not dominate the way we think. We can choose to be part of the problem, moaning and groaning about all that’s wrong, wringing our hands in exasperation. Or we can choose instead to become part of the solution, starting with concentrating on what’s right and good and worthy of commendation, and then proceeding from there.

          Because: What you think…you are. 

Legal, Moral, and What’s Right

Just because something is legal, does that mean it’s necessarily the right thing to do? I started thinking about this after reading about a melee that broke out during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. As you might recall, an attempted burning of the American flag ignited the scuffle.

Someone on social media pointed out the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969 ruled burning the flag is not illegal. That’s true, but does that mean it’s okay to do?

Consider: There’s no law that prohibits cheating on one’s spouse, but does that mean it’s the right thing to do? You won’t get arrested for cutting into a grocery store’s checkout line, but just because it’s not against the law, should we do it? And I doubt there’s any legislation restricting a person from walking into a mosque and shredding a copy of the Qur’an (if you prefer, Koran), but that doesn’t make it right – or advisable.

As I’ve so often found, the Bible has something very practical to say about this. And you don’t have to be religious – or even spiritual – to appreciate its wisdom: "’I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ – but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Another translation states it this way: “’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”

I’m all in favor of free speech, and if people want to protest, they should have that right. But if that involves attacking the sensibilities of millions of proud, patriotic Americans – especially in these days when we’re told to avoid offending anyone – maybe it’s stepping over the line.

Some might argue an American flag is just a piece of material, so what’s the harm? But if the protesters thought it important enough to select the Stars and Stripes to set ablaze, it must be more than a piece of material to them. For them it’s a significant symbol, representing some cause they wish to protest or denounce.

Countless thousands of soldiers have given their lives to protect what the flag represents. Many thousands more have returned from battle maimed in body, mind and spirit to guarantee the rights of these protesters to voice their dissent. My father suffered two wounds in World War II, and a number of family members and friends also participated in various wars because they believed in the values and principles the American flag has traditionally represented.

So for those who feel inclined to burn Old Glory to express their ire, I’d like to ask them, as the Scripture passage admonishes, “Is it beneficial?” “Is it constructive?” “Is it helpful?” “Does it build up – or does it tear down?”

I’d also make a suggestion: If these protesters feel so strongly opposed to the American way of life, why don’t they burn their Social Security cards and renounce their benefits? Or their welfare checks, food stamps, or college financial aid vouchers? That would make a point, for sure.

And since those that protest in such an unseemly manner reject what they believe the red, white and blue stands for, these folks should be encouraged in the strongest possible way to quickly find a new country of residence, one whose flag they can look upon with pride rather than scorn.

That’s not to say all is well with our nation. Far from it. But for those of us who choose to convey concerns and dissatisfaction in more civil ways, we’d be wise to heed the exhortation of Micah 6:8, which informs us, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

We’re not to worship a flag – or a nation. But in our strivings to bring about a better world, wouldn’t an approach that’s beneficial and constructive, one that’s helpful and builds up, be better? Flies still are much more attracted to honey than they are to vinegar.

The Weight of the Wait

Waiting, or even having to slow down, cuts against our grain.

TV commercials bombard us with images of juicy hamburgers, delicious-looking pizza, or scrumptious desserts, then we see ads for weight-loss programs or diet drinks. Seem ironic? Either it’s irony – or a conspiracy!

Obviously, the problem of being overweight and the health implications weigh heavily on our society. But there’s a greater burden, even for those who aren’t afflicted with copious pounds: The weight of having to wait.

We don’t like waiting. For anything. Whether it’s at a traffic light waiting for it to turn green, standing in line at the grocery store or post office, or having our high-tech TV take just a few moments to come on, we hate to wait. We want what we want – and we want it NOW.

It’s even more acute when dealing with important issues in our lives – awaiting test results for a worrisome diagnosis; hoping to hear good news after a promising job interview; searching the mail day after day anticipating an acceptance letter from the college we want to attend. With the unrest confronting society, many factors are involved, but among them is the unwillingness of people to wait for desired change.

We’re even wait-resistant when it comes to lifetime achievements. We’d love to become acclaimed musicians, or accomplished business people, or stellar athletes, but are reluctant to invest the thousands of hours necessary for becoming exceptional at our craft. Unfortunately, as Stephen R. Graves wrote recently on his website about leadership, “There is no speed cooking in greatness.”

No one watches pots anymore waiting for them to boil; we lurk with arms folded in front of microwaves waiting for instant meals to be heated. And impatience, this aversion to having to wait for any reason, seems more pronounced with each new generation.

Nevertheless, like death and taxes, waiting is a non-negotiable part of the human experience. Apparently that’s exactly as God intended.

Repeatedly the Scriptures tell us we need to learn to wait – gladly, not grudgingly. Psalm 46:10 tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  When we desperately need or desire something, but feel helpless to bring it about, the discipline of waiting underscores the reality that He’s at work and is the one to fulfill that need.

During difficult times I’ve turned to Psalm 37 for guidance and comfort. It teaches, “Trust in the Lord and do good…. Delight yourself in the Lord…. Commit your way to the Lord…” (Psalm 37:3-5), and each time I’ve thought, “I can do that! Yup, no problem!” But then I come to verse 7, which does pose a problem: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” In case the admonition is missed the first time, it’s revisited in verse 34: “Wait for the Lord and keep his way.”

Oh, man! Who wants to do that, right?

And yet, there’s a certain beauty in waiting. It doesn’t mean sitting on a stump, frozen in place, submitting to God’s mercy. As devotional writer David McCasland explains, “wait in the Bible often means, ‘to look eagerly for, to hope, and to expect.’” As I’ve noted before, biblical hope isn’t “hope so,” but rather earnest expectation or confident assurance.

So when we read in Psalm 25:3, “No one whose hope is in (God) will ever be put to shame,” we can take that promise to the bank, spiritually speaking. We can still be actively involved, doing what we know to do about the situation that’s causing us to wait. At the same time, we can rest in the assurance that our waiting will not be in vain, that the Lord’s timing is perfect, and His resolution will meet or surpass our greatest dreams.