Tested by Praise!


The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but man is tested by the praise he receives.

Proverbs 27:21

The “Wisdom of Solomon” lives on after thousands of years because that wisdom originated not with a man but with God Himself. God created humanity and then established the boundaries of wisdom and foolishness according to His Sovereign design. The whim of God is the bedrock of truth.

Through the vessel of Solomon God says that a man is tested by the praise he receives. How is praise a test? We all delight in and are encouraged by praise. But praise can be a great test and one that is easy to fail.

Praise is a test when we begin to believe the words that go beyond the truth. When I think of myself more highly than I ought to think I am guilty of failing the “Praise Test.” Believing the praise that is heaped upon you can be the very essence of certain failure. Praise can give you the confidence to step off the ladder when there is no safety net.

Praise can lead you to trust in yourself instead of trusting in God! That is the biggest problem with praise. So the answer to the dilemma of praise is this: When praise comes your way, point to the Lord and direct the praise to Him. The truth of course is that God is responsible for anything you have done that is worthy of praise and He can handle the praise.

When you praise anyone other than God it is misdirected praise, and when you receive praise without passing it on to God it becomes a great test in your life which is easy to fail!