Commended by God

For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. 2 Cor. 10:18

It is common for all of us to seek approval for our actions. As children, we longed for the affirmation of our parents. As we grew older, we also valued the opinions of our friends, collegues, and employers. At times, the esteem of others can claim such importance that it becomes our way to measure our worth as a person. I can relate, can you? But Paul said that he was not striving to obtain the approval of people. Some of his critics thought their criticisms could determine what he did. Yet these same people were praising themselves for their own opinions and behavior. They were seeking approval of others, and they were receiving it.

Jesus said that those who seek to gain approval of other people "have their own reward" (Matt. 6:2-5). Paul, too, realized that achieving the praise of others is not difficult, but earning God's approval is a far greater accomplishment. The affirmation "Well done!" that Jesus received from the Father became Paul's goal as well (2 Tim. 2:3-5). Paul knew that self-approval is not hard to attain, Paul himself had once been pleased with his own life, until he came to realize that the righteousness he was so proud of was mere trash in the kingdom of God (Phil. 3:8). After his conversion, Paul understood that God's evaluation of his actions was what mattered, not his own opinion of himself.

Whose opinion matters most to you? Is it your spouse, your kids, your employer? Which one comes to mind right now? Now think further, the commendation that matters most is the one that comes from God. The pleasure that your life gives to God should by your motivation to live.
So the takeaway here is are you living for God's commendation or someone else's? Are the they in conflict?