A WORD TO THE WISE: Provebs 27: 21 "Praise In, Praise Out"

Proverbs 27: 21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives. (NIV)

Proverbs 27: ²¹ As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. (KJV)

Proverbs 27: 12.  Depending on your Bible translation, this proverb refers to either the praise you get or to the praise you give. The point’s valid either way or both.

We worry often about critics/ haters.  But, the greatest danger to your characterdoesn’t come from being criticized.  It comes from praised.

Luke 6: 26      Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27     “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you

How many artists and professionals can you name who were strong, and deep, and admirable when they were struggling or just beginning to taste success, but, when they became consistently popular, turned into buttholes who are self-destructively stuck on themselves?

When success makes you the object of praise, you have to be very careful that you don’t compromise the morals and spiritual disciplines that produced your success. 

God pulled down King Saul because Saul cared more for his image in front of the people than he did for obeying God (1 Samuel 15).  The serpent drew Eve to sin and lose Eden not by attacking her but by convincing that she was entitled to be like God (Genesis 3: 4-6).

The way you deal with receiving praise reveals your true character, and God judges you for your character not your image (1 Samuel 16: 7; Jeremiah 17: 10).

Also, the kind of praise you give shows who you really are.  Think carefully about why you care more about the bling and the ballin’ than you do about the message and the morals.    Consider what it says about the sickness of your heart if your first impulse is to say something that fuels drama and conflict, and you get mad when somebody “dips in” to stop a fight because now you’re bored.

Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

The praise you give can speak more truth about you than the praise you get.

Know who you are.  Let the Word of God, not the words of other people, tell you who you are supposed to be.  Accept and give praise accordingly.

----- Anderson T. Graves II

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church

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