How can you believe, when you accept praise (affirmation and approval) from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? - John 5: 31-47
This is one of my favorite sayings of Jesus. It is so revealing to me personally. Over the years, my life, and I'm guessing the lives of many, seem to be controlled - to some extent - by our need for approval and acceptance. It's not a bad thing in itself, it's a natural need - but it often leads to some objectively disordered behavior, and at times, accounts for the double lives some people lead. (Not to mention social media addiction.) Which gives rise to so many lies, deceptions, affectations, pretentiousness and so on.
So I try to remember this passage in the Gospel, and repeat it to myself often - as an examen.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves ... -Philippians 2
Henry Karlson has a very good essay related to this, on Vainglory, I'll share an excerpt here:
Nothing is so quick to turn us away from the good than by seeking praise and honors for doing so, because once we become accustomed to accept such praise as signifying what is good and just, we will find ourselves malleable to the whims of what is temporarily popular. We shall change our ways, we shall change what we do, in order to continue to receive accolades from others. What could be more fickle than that? We might get what we desire, but we will find it is fleeting: the praise is momentary, while life continues on. We will find out that when we get such a reward that it does not satisfy us. When our fame dies down, we will have to do something once again to gain the attention of others ... - Vainglory
