I write a blog (obviously). And I love it. I love expressing myself and this faith with words. I love meeting you. I love encouraging you. I love design. I love almost every aspect of the whole blog experience (minus html and css).
But a wrestling takes place. I wrestle against pleasing you as my reader vs. pleasing solely my God. Because I want you to be happy. I prefer avoiding conflict. So I wrestle and pray that my fleshly people-pleasing side falls in defeat. Because deep down I truly want to write and live for Him alone.
That’s partly why Jesus’ words this past week from the sermon on the mount pierced deep in me. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.” (Matthew 6:1) Beware.
Jesus knows we have the wrestling. He knows that the desire pulls heavily at us. That’s why He beseeches us to search our hearts. He challenges us to look at the why behind our actions. “Why, Lara, do you keep this blog — practicing your righteousness before others?” Because if it’s to receive the praise of people — even sweet people like you — then I miss the reward from my Father.
And I don’t want to miss it! Because His reward is infinitely better than any earthly recognition and reward we could attain. But maybe we just don’t believe that. Maybe we crave the praise of man because we don’t grasp the magnitude of our Father’s praise.
It’s the why behind our righteous acts that He warns us to evaluate. We need Him to reveal to us what drives our public ministries. Because if it’s the approval of people, we miss the greater reward.
For all my Sermon-On-The-Mount-Memorizers, this is our last week before a breather week. Keep on, my friends:
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:3-5
Fill me, Lord…
How have you wrestled with receiving the praise from people vs. God?
I get it Lara – I get it. We always say we want all the praise to God our Father in heaven – but so many of us – probably nearly all of us – me, definitely – we want our share of the praise now. We know it goes against what our Lord taught – we know it’s not what God wanted – but it’s what we want. It’s what I want. The Sermon on the Mount cuts like a double-edged sword – so beautiful – so convicting – it really does show how much we need grace every single minute of every single day. Thank you for this are – and of course the reason why you blog is also the people like me can read it – iron sharpens iron – thank you for sharpening me today. and God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours, Lara.
Thank you, Craig. Yes! “It really does show how much we need grace every single minute of every single day.” I honestly think that was His main point. Left to us, we’re broken and need a Savior. Thanks for those kind words. Iron does sharpen iron. We need one another. Blessings, brother.
As a musician helping lead worship, this is a never-ending battle for me. For a long time, I wanted to draw lines on musical choices that could determine if something was too flashy. Not so plain as to be uninspiring, but not so dazzling as to be distracting. Kind of maddening, really. Then I came to realize that the moments when I play/sing deeply from the heart in genuine worship might be plain or dazzling, and I really just needed to follow the Spirit instead of trying to control others’ worship.
Yes! Amen, sister-friend. Follow His Spirit’s lead and leave the results to Him.
Yeah, I get this too. I used to write a blog, used to promote it on FB, and I loved the feedback. I see this in my heart when commenting in online forums too. It was mainly for that reason (my seeking after praise) that I stopped blogging and drastically reduced my online presence.
I think, in our hearts, we know when the Spirit is telling us we are getting trapped by man’s praise.
2 tips that helped me: a) take a break to seek God’s will, and b) pause before jumping in – maybe someone else is already answering the need with wisdom and humility much greater than mine.
Amen and amen. I am in this crux of this struggle myself. May we write only to share the greater goodness of His love and mercy!
Dear Lara,
Thank you for this post. It really speaks to me. I know in my heart that deep down somewhere I want to be lifted up. My pride will come in and steal the blessing.
I just want you to know that the things you write about are things I want to hear. Your words point me to God, and always cause me to “examine myself.” The things you write about are the same things I wrestle with.
Thanks,
Tina