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Writer's pictureLeon Valley Church of Christ

Each Man's Praise

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God (1 Cor. 4:5).


Men want to be relevant. Often this desire drives them to do anything--including sin--in order to feel relevant. This desire is not inherently evil, but a reflection of the One who made us. He acts with purpose. He plans, He executes, and He finds satisfaction in making ambition reality--"God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished" (Gen. 2:3), so it should not surprise us--beings made in His image, to want to see the same desires satisfied within ourselves.


"God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) One of the reasons people grow bitter, frustrated, or generally dissatisfied with life and self is that they no longer live with purpose. Trudging despondently from one menial task to another, grinding the hours away in the work-a-day world, being unaware of God's designs for them, they "lead lives of quiet desperation" never believing or realizing their cosmic relevance in God's eternal scheme. Namely, that He would be reconciled to them through the sacrifice of His Son, and set them to the greatest, most relevant work there is--loving God and making disciples of all men (Matt. 22:37-38; 28:18-20)


Sadder still are those fully aware of God's will yet reject it (Lk. 7:30), who exchange the truth of God for a lie, and settle for counterfeit, worldly imitations of heavenly glory--the fickle praise of mere mortal men, the fading fleshly beauty of youth, the over-promising power of wealth, and countless pleasures that benumb with diminishing returns. Herein is the illusion of relevance, the lie of a life "well-lived"--so long as one procures these things and successfully ignores the disenchanting realizations that come with attainment. Solomon could not ignore such realizations: "Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind...For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile" (Ecc. 2:16-17, 22-23).


When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, the recipients were relishing their fleshly pursuits, glory-hoarding earthly renown by planting their flags in the names of well-known preachers--"I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas..." They took great pride in their "accomplishments" and vied for supremacy within the local church. Christians are not immune to the fast-track appeal of earthly glory. I've conversed with Christians who couldn't wait to drop the name of "their" preacher or "their" church or "their" project, pausing in anticipation of fawning recognition so they can drink in the satisfaction. Corinth was infected with such pride--"I'm associated with the great brother/church magnífico, so bask in my superior relevance..." to which the Holy Spirit says, "...do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God" (1 Cor. 4:5).


In other words, remember that you, like everyone else in the church, are just a servant, and should regard the best known teachers and preachers the same way. "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each" (1 Cor. 3:5).


When the time comes, God will reveal what glory you and everyone else is to receive--"each man's praise will come to him from God." He will reveal if the life you lived was truly praiseworthy. If you are found faithful by Him, will there be any question about your relevance in this life? "In the end, that Face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us—either with the expression of conferring glory inexpressible or the expression of inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised" (C.S. Lewis).


"So the last will be first, and the first will be last" (Matt. 20:16). Let Jesus determine your relevance. Decide to be about the work He has given you to do. Use whatever resources, talents, and time He has put at your disposal for His glory and cause, and He will reward you in the end. Don't obsess over the ranks of men. There will be many surprises in Heaven. Why? Because "...what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Lk. 16:15). Earthly wealth, fame, and relevance does not translate to eternity. Heaven's values are different. I suspect that those crowned with the highest glory and honor on the Day of Judgement will not be those who were well-known across the brotherhood--who stood in the pulpit every Sunday, whose names and faces graced many a flyer in many a foyer, or those who organized the most events, or had the greatest following on Facebook. Rather it will be those who quietly went about their labor for the Lord, not sounding a trumpet before them, who day by day didn't let their left hand know what their right hand was doing, were never complacent or self-satisfied, but put their hand to the plow and never looked back--these are the ones the Lord esteems--the gentle and quiet spirits, which in God’s sight are very precious (1 Pet. 3:4).

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shuford.hazel
Jul 28

Very good

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