As a believer, should we be looking for praise/appreciation from other for our good work/thoughts/behavior/attitude? If not, then should we be looking for praise/appreciation from god? If none, then how do we keep ourselves motivated even in tough times?
Discussion
13 comments
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I think praising is part of loving someone. So, yes we should be receiving that from God and from His Word. And yes, we should be praising ourselves when we are doing good works, and being productive, or brave, or creative, etc. And we should love those around us, our family and friends, by praising them – it will also set an example to them, and we can also encourage them to praise those that they care about (which includes you).
God never designed us to be lone ranger Christians. We need one another.
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The best we can do for God is our duty. Even at our hypothetical best, we are unprofitable servants.
Do what you to God’s glory.
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as we are believers there’s nothing wrong with accepting praises from others. Though we do our good works not to get their praises, but because God deserves the glory.
i highly recommend you to read Philippians 2, hope it helps
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Fix your eyes on things above.
Motivation is a work also of the Holy Spirit.
Store your treasures on heaven above, not on earth below where thieves can break in and moths can ruin.We were created to worship God… not the other way around.
Worshipping oneself harms oneself. It is idolatry. Any worship given to anyone other than our Lord Jesus Christ, is idolatry -
We should be looking for God’s works in ourselves.
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Also for me personally, all I do is because of Him. Only He should get the praise. I am nothing but an instrument for my Lord and God.
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We have to lose a dependence on praise or support from others and do it all for His glory alone. Even when we do good works and others see, it’s the goal that it would lead them to praise God, not ourselves.
MATTHEW 5:16
Even so, let your light shine among men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.My motivation comes from the treasure I’m laying up in heaven, and the eternal reward of a life with him.
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I think some of these actions can and should be shared as a testimony only to convey and show fruits of the spirit being produced, but in order to attain praise, no. Praise will take care of itself. I absolutely enjoy doing good works BEHIND the scenes and (quite frankly) prefer it that way. I made it clear to my former pastor (church I used to go to) that I prefer behind the scenes and made this known to him AFTER he told the congregation that my wife and I had bought the sign for the front of the church to actually identify our church to the community.
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Not sure if this response is what you’re interested in.
Seems to me that one of the aspects of upright behavior that Christians almost never speak about is this:One who pursues upright living avoids a “boat load” of guilt and regret.
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To seek praise and adoration is to seek an idol, the idol of self. To seek service for God and let Him seat you at the head of the table when He sees fit.
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Stop focusing on ourselves is a good start…
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Unfortunately, we cannot expect rewards for our holiness in this life. In fact, Jesus promised the exact opposite! He said we would be hated in the world because we align ourselves with Him (John 15:18, see also 2 Timothy 3:12).
Fortunately, we will be rewarded in Heaven. (2 Cor. 5:10, Matt. 25:21, 1 Cor. 3:8).
Personally, I find that the best way to motivate myself is, almost counterintuitively, stop focusing on myself. By spending time with God (in the Word and worship), I correctly set my eyes on things above. When I’m serving others, even in my own time of need, I know that Christ is especially active in my life (see Christ’s promise to be with you, focusing on how he promises it in the context of one who is serving in Matthew 28:20). -
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