The praise of men is something most people desire. When we do an exceptional job, we want someone to notice. When our efforts seem to go unnoticed, we feel we have wasted our time or that what we did was not good enough for the recipient. We have programmed ourselves to believe and seek the praise of men.
In John 12:42, many of the chief rulers believed Jesus was who He said He was, but because of losing the praise of men, they would not openly confess Him. These would have been members of the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees were a majority of the council, and they would have had anyone who professed Jesus as the Messiah thrown out of the synagogue. To be put out of the synagogue would affect their lives in many ways. Excommunication would mean family and friends would no longer fellowship with you. Merchants could decide not to sell to you or buy the merchandise you were selling. It would be a very lonely life if held to the strictest standards.
John 12:42-43 “ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
In John 9:20-22, the parents of a man who had been born blind were asked who or what happened to allow their son to see. They were so fearful they told the Jews to ask him. They knew they would be put out of the synagogue if they told the truth, but it didn’t seem to bother them that their son would be put out also. They were more concerned about what the Jews thought of them than what God thought.
John 9:20-22 “His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”
We do see later in John 19:38-40 there were two Jews that were part of the council that hated Jesus. Yet, two of the men became disciples of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus asked for Jesus’s body, and they buried Him in a tomb that Joseph owned. They may have been fearful and seeking the praise of men, but when they accepted Jesus as their Savior, their love for Him caused them to take action no matter who it offended.
John 19:38-40 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”
Luke 23:50-52” And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.”
Where do you stand? How much of what you do is to please others? When you work hard and do for others, and there is no appreciation or acknowledgment, do you get upset? Do you serve so people will like you or think well of you? Do you serve because it is your duty, and you do not want others to think you are not fulfilling your obligation? Examine yourself and decide why you do what you do. Some good verses to help your focus and keep you serving are I Corinthians 10:31 “ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God,” and Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” What we do is to be done for Him and Him alone. If others get the benefit, so be it. We are doing it for Him! No praise is needed or wanted!
