Praising the One who earns it…

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. . . .  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:3–12)

A few weeks ago a friend praised another Christian and I responded that God is amazing for doing that work in her life. My words were ignored, maybe unexpected, but at the time I was frustrated with people getting credit for what God has done.

When I read the first part of this passage, it surprised me that Paul was boasting about the Christians in Thessalonica, yet as it goes on, he made certain that his readers knew their godly lives gave glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. They would not be steadfast in their faith apart from Him.

Praising people was bothering me because of being aware how I  like having my ego stroked. This not what being a strong Christian is about. Those who received this letter were praised because of the power of God. So was the woman I heard being praised. She has endured much, things that would make the average person likely flee or fall apart. However, she herself knows that her survival is due to Jesus Christ, not her own resources, and she would be the first to say so. 

Actually, I’ve no idea what goes on in the hearts of others when they are given the praise that Jesus deserves. I just know that my focus is diverted from adoring Him and being thankful to the strong sense of pride seeping in, and soon I will have sinful ideas about my own goodness. 
Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

It is easier to be a Pharisee than to be humble. Could it be that people would rather associate with those who impress them with their lives than those who admit their sinfulness? Perhaps. Other passages come to mind. 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3)

My spiritual is life is not helped by being told that I am amazing. Praising Jesus builds my faith. Besides…

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (2 Corinthians 12:7)

Not only that, hanging around people that impress me misses out on helping those who need encouragement, or even learning that exalting Jesus is the way to do it. Jesus even said, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

Jesus, I know what praise for me does to my fleshy heart. Others argue that making people feel good about themselves and about their walk with You is edifying. Perhaps there are times when I need that sort of encouragement, yet when it points to me instead of You, it can feed the flesh and do nothing to build my faith. Help me convey Your greatness to built others up and not shoot them in the foot.

The value of humility

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (Luke 7:2–10)

On Monday I had another eye appointment. I’d earlier gone to my regular optometrist who suspected the beginning of problem with the other eye and sent me to a specialist who gave me weekly shots and said I’d need them for the rest of my life. However this one was several weeks from the previous shot. However, for some reason, I was even more nervous than usual. Getting a needle in the eye is not fun.

On the way there, I prayed, mostly for a calm attitude. However, I also asked for a good result. The surprise happened; the tests showed no more symptoms. I believed God could do that but didn’t know if He would. The next check up is months from now.

In the above passage, Jesus went with the centurion, not because of his good reputation. This man understood Jesus’ authority, but he also understood that he was not worthy to have Jesus in his home, and that He could heal from wherever He was. In other words, he knew that Jesus was no ordinary man. He was able to heal his servant without any merit or doing anything to deserve such a blessing.

In my car on the way to the eye doc, I was thinking more about my lack of worth and about this painful procedure than about deserving anything from the Lord, never mind a reversal on the tests from the last visit. Oddly enough, having that happen makes me feel even less worthy. It also makes me realize the important relationship between faith and humility. Those with great faith never feel as if they deserve blessings or rewards, the opposite of how even Christians can assume God owes them.

Lord, yesterday, people disappointed me and I felt unworthy. Today the same people blessed me, yet my first reaction was to thank God rather than think I was due that blessing. Jesus, being a Christian with faith in You is so different than being my old self. You said this: ”Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12) and Peter learned it: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6) so that I might learn it also. Again, I am blessed.