Pride forces us toward two extremes: I am amazing, or I am awful. Sometimes these extremes push and pull moments apart, again and again! And when we stand in front of people with a microphone, an instrument, a voice of authority, and a position of visibility we can quickly begin to size up our value and worth based on the response - or lack thereof - from the people we serve. We can foolishly believe that everything is riding on us. Did the music go well? That’s because we worked hard, practiced, and led well. Did things feel chaotic, disjointed, and a mess? It’s because we are not good and have no business in this kind of role.
Two weeks ago I wrote about responding to criticism. But the truth is responding to compliments is a different side of the same coin. Undoubtedly, we will receive criticism in our role. Undoubtedly, we will also receive compliments. I think we must receive compliments in the same way we receive criticism. First, prayerfully.
One of the ways that Christ equips and builds up His body is through His body. I desire to receive a compliment not as an affirmation of myself and my gifts, but as a testament to the way God uses His people to build us all up toward maturity in Christ. I want my heart and mind to be turned upward to Christ in gratitude, rather than inward toward self when people speak words that spur me on toward godliness.
Second, we receive compliments with humility. This doesn’t mean that we are not grateful, that doesn’t mean we attempt to deflect people’s words with something like, ‘It wasn’t me up there, it was the Lord…’ It means we recognize that we have nothing we did not receive, and so we give glory to God, who does not share His glory with another. It means that we celebrate who God is and what He is doing, rather than seek to build up our own fragile egos with the life-giving words of another.
Finally, we let God’s voice be the loudest and most consistent voice in our minds and hearts. When my heart is treasure the Word spoken over me by my Heavenly Father, I do not have to be swayed or swell with the criticism or praise of another.
“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou my inheritance now and always,
Thou and Thou only first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.”