Praise Test………

“Gold and silver are tested in a red-hot furnace,

but we are tested by praise”.   Prov. 27:21 CEV

Praise brings with it unseen dangers.   It may cause us to believe we are better than we really are.   It may blind us to our own weaknesses and it may lead to a place where we no longer think we need God.

Praise may cause us to end up in the crucible, a fiery finance where our motives will be severely tested and all that is false in us will be completely exposed.  At that moment it is difficult to remember that gold and silver are purified by passing through the fire.   Though the image is often applied to trails, it also applies to our victories.

The spiritual truth behind this proverb is not hard to see.   Satan often attacks us at the point of our strength, not the point of our weakness.  

After all, why should Satan attack only in the point of your self-perceived weakness?    If you know you have a weakness that is the very area you will guard most carefully.   If you know you have a problem with anger or with laziness or with lust or with gluttony, will you not be on guard lest you fall?

But it is not so with your strengths.  You take those areas for granted.  You may feel that you are strong in areas and there are no temptations for you.  Watch out!   There is danger ahead.   When a person takes any area of life for granted, that is the one area Satan is most likely to attack. 

At this point we do well to remember the Jewish leaders who believed on Jesus but would not confess Him for fear of the Pharisees.   “They loved praise from men more than praise from God” (Jn 12:43).   

Praise is wonderful to receive.  But when we love it too much it can lead us away from God.

“He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross.  He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord”.  Mal. 3:3 NLT