The Praise Test
by Jim Person
Every week, at the beginning of our staff meetings, our director gives praise to those individuals who performed above normal in the week prior. I have found in my heart a mixture of emotions. When I’m praised, I sometimes feel embarrassed, as I think it wasn’t anything special that I did. Other times I think, “Why wasn’t that thing I did mentioned?”
I’m amazed at the full gamut of feelings that range in my heart at receiving praise in my life. I realize that the true caliber of a person is seen by the praise they receive. Their expression, their stride afterwards, their talk … all reflects the heart. I think of the old image of a person holding out one hand as if to stop the praise, while holding the other close to their chest motioning for more. All of us like to be recognized and appreciated for what we do. It is how we react to the praise we receive that defines us.
Most of us like to be appreciated and valued. I haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t. In Proverbs 27:19, it says, ‘As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person’. Our heart shows what is inside us, who we really are. And then in verse 21, our scripture for today, we see that a person is tested by being praised. How we react to the words of praise reflects how much we have allowed God to change us into His image.
We are all broken image bearers, because we are originally made in the image of God, but we have sin-deformed images. Praise brings that broken image to the surface, so we can see the distorted reflection of that perfect image of God that we try to show to others. Having true humility brings us honor, as we understand that the praise we receive is really praise to the One who gave us the ability to perform the task which has received praise.
It is called the praise test.
As we compare it to how silver is refined, we can see that both are refined by the external elements that are applied to them. With silver as the heat (fire) is applied, the stuff that’s inside rises to the surface. It’s called the impurities, or the dross, and it is removed from the silver to purify it. With a person, when praise is "applied" to them, we see what is in their heart rises to the surface. As we give God thanks for helping accomplish the task we did, in humility, we can glorify Him who made us.
Jim Person Jim grew up in Alaska and from a small child commercial fished every summer with his family. God called him, his wife Tanya, and their four children to move to Hungary as missionaries in 2003. God then led him to join Ellel Ministries in 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where he is now serving with the Ellel USA team. Jim and Tanya have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom. They also love mentoring the existing and developing Ellel teams wherever God leads them. Jim also has a real gift for working with the land to create a beautiful and welcoming environment.
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