The praise of others

Jane Clayson Johnson, a former correspondent for CBS News and mother of two who left the news business to be a stay-at-home mom, shared her grandmother’s wisdom about remaining down-to-earth in the public eye. She said, “If you allow the praise of others to define you, their criticism will destroy you.”

Concern for what others think of you is a difficult balance. One on hand, you should want to present a good image to the world. You should be a person whose light shines (Matthew 5:16). However, feeding upon praise for being righteous or for a great accomplishment is dangerous. Paul wrote, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

A wise person depends on what the Lord thinks: “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth” (2 Corinthians 10:18). If you stand approved by God, then everything will fall into place as it should. You will never be popular (John 15:19; 2 Timothy 3:12), but you will be right. The world’s praise will not define you, nor will its criticism destroy you.

Kyle Campbell