Looking in the Wrong Direction?

Psalm 139:13-18

Message No. 0793 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

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Some people seek the approval of others so much that they are willing to compromise their faith to earn it. In this writing, we share that this is a trap, and a child of God must never love adulation to the extent of losing their heaven-bound journeys; after all, the only One whose approval matters has already approved us.

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Most people love to hear people say good things about them. With varying degrees of craving, some people find it difficult to cope with adulation, while others want it as if it’s the blood that flows in their veins. I once heard the testimony of a married christian woman who sat beside a guy in the aircraft on one of her trips. They had never met before, but the sweet words of this guy to the woman were so desired by her that she got carried away, and upon landing, she found herself in his bed in the hotel. While it’s a good thing to commend anyone who does well, and it is occasionally kind to compliment someone who looks good, where the line is drawn can become very important, especially for christians, so God’s children do not slip into sin for the sake of flattery words.

A child of God must know his or her worth, and not go all out seeking praises from people, because the mouths which sing ‘hosannah’ today can scream ‘crucify him’ tomorrow. It does not matter how much your family, friends or colleagues sweet-talk you, none of these can be compared to what the Bible says about you. In Psalm 139 verses 13-15, the Bible says:

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

God’s children must know that the DNA of the Creator is in them, because God created them in His own image, and it does not matter how powerful the lies of the devil are, none of us is worth less than a unique output of the perfect God. In the above scripture, the Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are not factory errors, we are premium!

Do you know that anyone who craves praise too much is already competing with God? This was the original sin of the devil who wanted to set himself above his Creator. We all know how that ended. Sadly, there are people today who have continued to tread the same path, because every minute of their lives, they are looking for people to bow down and worship them for how genius they are. They believe that they are self-made and are superior to other human beings. These people are treading a dangerous path without knowing it.

For people who are only seeking confirmation or affirmation, may I announce to you that you are already affirmed by the One whose affirmation matters more than man’s praise? A child of God must never feel  worthless, alone or rejected. Far from it; you are so valuable to God that He sacrificed His Son for you! In Isaiah 43:4, the Bible says:

Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.

And in Psalm 139 verses 17-18, the Bible says again:

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

See what the Bible says about you in 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 9-10:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Writing to the Galatians in chapter 1, verse 10, Paul let them know that he was not trying to win the approval of people but of God, because if pleasing people were his goal, he would not be Christ’s servant. We must all stop seeking the approval of people to the extent that some are carried away and end up not only displeasing themselves in the process, but displeasing God also. If our spouses don’t tell us that they love us all the time, it doesn’t mean that they stopped loving us, it just means that they are  being human. Looking in the wrong direction for adulation is a trap. The Almighty God is our Cheerleader, and in all things, this is more than sufficient.

What to Do?

Stop looking for people’s approval. You are already approved by Him whose only approval matters.