Victory is Found in God’s Declaration “You are a Winner!”
I want to be a winner. I remember being in grade school and standing in line waiting to be chosen for a team. I’m not the most coordinated of people, but I was never chosen last because my fun factor was exceptional. I didn’t rank before the top-notch athletes; however, I was selected before the mediocre athletes. In those moments, my peers labeled me a winner.
Striving to be Seen as a Winner
I’m fond of board games. I enjoy the mix of strategy and chance. However, if I am fully honest with myself, I also want the title of Champion! I’m enough of a positivity-freak that I don’t want to necessarily belittle those I’m competing against, but there’s something inside me that longs to know I’m worthy.
I like participating in contests, not necessarily to beat someone, but to reaffirm to myself that I’m okay. Is it safe for me to admit I’m an attention admirer, a compliment collector, a praise procurer? Let me plainly declare what I want: “Please say nice things about me and to me, thank you.”
The Winner Downfall
I like the challenge of acquiring winner status, which has pushed me at various points in my life. Although striving to be successful is not a negative characteristic, I know relying on the praise of others, or always needing to be the victor, is not wise.
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.”
Proverbs 27:21
Years ago, God used this verse in Proverbs 27 to stop me in my winning track. I perceived praise as a grand thing! I viewed praise as that special something that told me I was living life well. When someone appreciated my talent, I interpreted I was using the gifts God gave me appropriately. If someone complimented my skill, my effort and capabilities were satisfactorily confirmed. I relied on cheers, applause, and recognition to tell me I was on the right track and living life well.
Praise as a Test
Did you notice the author of the verse doesn’t tell us praise is bad; instead, he tells us praise is used as a test. Allow me to remind you tests aren’t evil. As a former teacher, I know tests are designed to allow the teacher to know what the student has learned. We get stuck on the pass/fail aspect, but the purpose of a test is to reveal what the student knows, and what information or skill she needs more practice with. A test exposes where a student struggles.
The praise test reveals who we are truly worshiping. If we think too highly of ourselves, we will continually behave in ways to gain more praise. If we think too little of ourselves, we will continually behave in ways to gain more praise. Do you see the pattern? Our need for importance divulges the secret idol of self.
Who We Are, Who We Worship
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be sheep who follow our Shepherd (John 10) and not approval junkies. We go where He goes, and we do what He directs us to do. John describes several times in his gospel how Jesus perfectly modeled this for us by only doing and saying what the Father told Him.
In addition, we know as believers that God is the only One worthy of glory. The Old Testament is filled with verses that declare the glory of God in nature and in the powerful deeds He did for the Israelites. In the New Testament we learn Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3). Paul tells us in I Corinthians, no matter what we do, we are to do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
It feels so good to be good at something, doesn’t it? When others appreciate us, approve of what we’ve accomplished, and celebrate our efforts we feel better about who we are. Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 27:21 admiration and applause can be an ambush that leads us down a path where the focus is on us and not on God.
Praise is Designed for God
Paul reminds us in Romans 7:18 there is nothing good in us. Without Christ we can do nothing that is genuinely good; He is the only good inside of us. Paul also tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that God opened the door for us to be adopted into His family through Jesus. “This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5, NLT)
God isn’t concerned about our status as a winner. God is focused on our acceptance of His gift of grace. He chooses us to be His children and belong to His royal family. We aren’t just fringe members either, we have a right to a complete inheritance. God doesn’t want us to be fixated on acquiring praise; God longs for us to be captured by His glory and choose to offer praise to Him.
God Declares us Winners
C.S. Lewis said, “A man whose hands are full of parcels can’t receive a gift.” We can get so caught up in collecting praise from others we are unable to receive the gift God wants to give. Furthermore, God gives “one gracious blessing after another” from His abundance (John 1:16 NLT). It is God’s grace and unfailing love that declares we are winners.
I believe cheering others on is a good thing. For example, Jesus complimented others and expressed His appreciation. We are to give praise away, not strive to obtain a collection of accolades. Paul says in Ephesians 1:16, we are the praise of God’s glory. We are to acclaim, esteem, recognize and celebrate God’s glory, not seek our own.
God affirms today, you are already a winner; Christ in you proves it true. Our lives our overrun with His glory, may we pass the praise to where it belongs.
Ticket to Ride Photo by Dave Photoz on Unsplash
