From Monday Morning Insight Weblog:
The ministers of the Gospel should be men who are not too easily affected by praise or criticism, but simply speak of the benefit and the glory of Christ and seek the salvation of souls. Whenever you are being praised, remember it is not you who is being praised but Christ, to whom all praise belongs. When you preach the Word of God in its purity and also live accordingly, it is not your own doing, but God's doing. And when people praise you, they really mean to praise God in you. When you understand this--and you should because 'what do you have that you did not recieve?'--you will not flatter yourself on the one hand and on the other hand you will not carry yourself with the thought of resigning from the ministry when you are insulted, reproached, or persecuted.
but what do you pastors want to hear when we want to respond positively to the message we just heard?
unfortunately so many of us believe that 'to god be the glory' for all the good things but the failures are our fault. we don't accept the praise but we do the criticism.
i totally don't agree though that when people praise you they are always praising god. everyone deserves a little praise every now and then.
I agree. I think what I take from the quote is not to believe all the praise or the criticism. Humility still makes room for acknowledging one's strengths as well as weaknesses.
When the minsistry ministers more to the minister than the people it ceases to be a ministry. How's that for repetetive use of a word!