Praise

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:8-31)

            Just as different people express love in different ways, different people give and receive praise in different ways. Some people love being publically praised. They enjoy being brought up in front of a group and having the whole group appreciate them. Some people prefer a more private audience. My own preference is that you share what I have done with others. It doesn't matter so much that I did it. What matters is that what I did was good enough. Tell me that it matters.

            But imagine being praised, lavishly praised, but the people nearest and dearest and by the public. Imagine being praised by God. I know people who say that look forward to hearing "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21)  Certainly we should expect no more. It would more than enough, but is it what the Bible tells us to expect? Israel was often described as being God's adulterous bride. The Church is described as Jesus' bride. In John 15:15, Jesus told His disciples that He no longer called them servants, but friends. In  Hebrews 12:1-3 we're told that we're running a race before a cloud of witnesses. Those who win races don't receive a "well done, good and faithful servant." They get excitement. In Hebrews 11, it is said of those who were admitted to the Hall of Faith due to suffering that the world was not worthy of them. That's not a "well done, good and faithful servant."  These are people who feared the Lord. Their works bring their praise at the heaven's gate. They have earned it by their faith.