“As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold [bring forth all the impurities of the metal], so let a man be in his trial of praise [ridding himself of all that is base or insincere; for a man is judged by what he praises and of what he boasts]”. Prov. 27:21 AMP
Silver and gold were identified, separated, and refined from impurities in a fining pot or furnace. There the trail of great heat separated base metals from precious metals. Then end result of the hot trial left the pure metals that were ready to be used for fine jewelry.
Praise is a fiery trial for man. If a man has a weak character, praise will make him proud, conceited, and overbearing. If a man has a strong character, it will not affect him at all. He will continue in his modest and humble life, giving glory to God and being thankful for any good that he might be able to do for others.
Praise creates a severe test of your soul. Praise will reveal what kind of person you are. It will prove a spirit of humility or a spirit of pride.
Do you crave the praise of man?
Those taught by the Holy Spirit will recognize the great danger in praise. We should dread praise more than a rebuke, for the one bears the good fruits of humility and instruction, and the other may work our ruin by the most pleasant poison!
A seed of pride lies active in the most sanctified soul and just a little praise can be enough to water it into a rapid and extensive growth that will choke our fruitfulness.
David, after killing Goliath, could have written his own ticket! Public opinion would have secured him the throne; after all, he had been anointed king (I Sam 16:1-13). But he told Saul he was just a son of Saul’s servant, Jesse the Bethlehemite.
When offered Saul's daughters in marriage, he thought the honor too high to consider (I Sam. 17:58, 18:17-24).
Satan was puffed up by his exalted position and aspired to be like the most High and he is a perpetual example of the danger of pride and the Lord’s severe condemnation of it (Isa. 14:9-15).
But contrast Jesus, who left the throne of glory to become a servant among mortals (Phil. 2:5-8). He even requested that His glorious miracles not be spread abroad, for He was not the least interested in the praise of man (Mk 7:36).
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