The Crucible of Praise

Bible Reading:  Proverbs 27:1-27

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise,” says the Bible in Proverbs 27:21 (NIV).

The picture that is painted for us here is that of a crucible and a furnace.  These are used to refine silver and gold.  The valuable metal sinks into the crucible as the heat increases, while the residue rises to the top.  Over time, more impurities come to the top, and each time the impurities are scraped off, it reveals purer and purer silver or gold.  

What does this picture of a purifying process teach us today?

Whatever our occupation in life may be, the most challenging test we will ever have to experience is praise and success.  They will test us in ways we are not ready to handle unless we have truly embraced the humility of Christ in our lives. 

When we face praise and success, we have a choice.  We can either believe our own press and think we really are fantastic and fabulous, or we can be realistic and recognize that any goodness in us is solely due to God's grace and goodness.  The opposite of this response is pride.  When we dare to think we are the cause of our success, it is a recipe for failure.  

I have watched this process in my own life and the lives of others.  Nothing tests us like praise.  I learned this lesson early on in my career.  I learned to offer the credit offered to me to God, who is genuinely responsible for what has happened.  God gives us talents and abilities, and what we accomplish using them rightfully belongs to God!  When our response to success and praise is pride, God first removes His presence from us and then begins to discipline us.  At that moment, we miserably failed the test!

My friend, be wise to take any praise given to us and direct it to God, for any good seen in us is the result of the grace and mercy of God alone. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me humility.  You have given me all my abilities for a reason.  Help me to honor You in everything.  Amen.