What steps can we take to seek God's approval over man's praise? Haman’s Craving for Applause “ ‘Even Esther the queen let no one except me come with the king to the banquet she had prepared. And tomorrow I am invited along with the king.’ ” (Esther 5:12) Haman is thrilled because he alone—besides the king—was invited to Esther’s private banquet. His joy flows from human recognition, not from any delight in God. The moment the crowd stops cheering, so does his happiness (5:13). God preserves this scene to warn us: applause is addictive, fleeting, and spiritually dangerous. Why God’s Approval Matters • People’s praise fades; God’s commendation endures forever (1 Corinthians 4:5). • “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) • The Lord weighs motives—He sees what no audience can (Jeremiah 17:10). Step 1: Guard the Motive • Before serving, ask, “Is Christ my audience?” (Colossians 3:23-24). • Redirect any self-promotion into gratitude: “Lord, You did this through me.” • Memorize John 12:43 to keep the danger visible: “For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” Step 2: Practice Secret Service • Do good works that no one but God sees (Matthew 6:1-4). • Keep quiet about acts of generosity; let the Father reward in His time. • These hidden choices train the heart to crave God’s smile, not retweets. Step 3: Celebrate Others, Not Self • “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth.” (Proverbs 27:2) • Publicly commend coworkers, family, ministry partners. • When compliments come your way, deflect them upward: “All glory to the Lord.” Step 4: Embrace Humility before God • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) • Daily acknowledge your dependence in prayer and in conversation. • Accept lowly tasks—stacking chairs, washing dishes—so the ego stays small. Step 5: Keep the Eternal Reward in View • Jesus promises recognition “in secret” now and openly at His return (Revelation 22:12). • Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:9-10: our aim is to please Him, because we’ll stand before His judgment seat. • Let future commendation motivate present faithfulness. Walking It Out This Week • Choose one routine duty (email replies, diaper changes, project edits) and consciously perform it “for the Lord, not for men.” • Write down any compliments you receive; next to each, note a way God enabled the success. • Spend five minutes praising God alone, with no audience, for who He is rather than what He gives. Haman lived for applause and was destroyed by the very crowd he courted. By contrast, when we seek God’s approval through humble, hidden, Christ-centered obedience, we gain a reward that can never be taken away. |
    |