Seeking Approval

No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

John 5:44

YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY FOR A STRANGER. You volunteer for your church and other causes. You go the extra mile for a coworker who needs help. You work hard for that promotion. You display diligence, dependability, and excellence, all of which are great character traits. But how do you feel when you don’t get so much as a thank you? When you don’t get recognized for all your unpaid hours? When you don’t get the promotion? Or worse, when your slacker coworker does? Do you feel slighted? Offended? Angry? For most of us, the answer is yes in varying degrees.

There’s nothing wrong with being appalled at injustice. Even standing up against it can be noble. But before we respond, we should consider Jesus’ words in today’s verse and examine where our motivations lie.

When Jesus said, “No wonder you can’t believe,” He was making a statement. In effect, He said that our craving for approval from others is an obstacle to true belief in Him. If He’s asking anything, it’s this: Where is your priority? Is it some recognition or reputation among your peer group, or are you willing to abandon that pursuit for a more meaningful walk with Me? It’s time to recalibrate our measure of success. At the end of our time on earth, the accolades and praises from others won’t matter at all. Only what Jesus says about us matters.

BOTTOM LINE

Pursuing the fleeting, conditional recognition of others is like running in the wrong direction. It takes us further away from God, never closer.

Moment of Strength: 1 Thessalonians 2:4-7