Text: John 6:15
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-12
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
John 6:15 NKJV
MESSAGE
If there is anything you must avoid is exaggerated praise of men, they are deadly and can quickly ruin a man. Do you know that whenever you begin to rise in God or a particular enterprise, people will begin to hail you? You must beware, lest it is the praise that will lead to your downfall and ultimately death.
Apart from the fact that such praise of men may lead you to become proud thereby leading you to fall, it’s more deadly and fatal because it puts a target at your back.
In our reading of the day, after David killed the giant, the women began to sing praise to David. They said Saul killed his thousands, and David his ten thousand. From that day, David got himself an instant enemy of the king of the land. What was supposed to be a victory parade in the praise of the God of Israel became a great source of controversy.
If you want to quickly kill yourself, you will be accepting such praise from men. But a wise fellow will return the glory to God. Joseph attracted enemies from within his house because he was preferred by his father who made it obvious to everyone. If not for God, Joseph would have been destroyed by the jealousy of his brethren.
When Jesus saw that the people will forcefully make him king, He left for the mountain to be alone. You must do like Jesus and not allow the vain praise of men enter your head. The Bible says that the same people who were crying Hossana to the highest were the same crying afterward, “Crucify him!”.
Finally, learn from Jesus who refused to commit himself to men because He knew the evil of men’s (John 2:24-25) They may praise you with their mouth but their hearts are far away from you (Matthew 15:8). If you accept excessive praise from men, you will be digging your own grave. Beware!
REFLECTION
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 12:42-43 NKJV
When a person values the praise of men above that of God, it is deadly. Such fellow will be attempting self-suicide. Whenever people tries to bring you glory, always return it with your whole heart to God.
PRAYER
Father, in any way I have received the glory and praise due you, please forgive me today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
