Almost everyone enjoys receiving an acknowledgement for a good work or recognition for an accomplishment. As Christians this can be for a good deed, and for ministry workers, it can be for the gift God has placed in your life such as singing, playing an instrument, ministering a life-changing message, or caring for others. Although this is really a good thing, we must be careful not to let the accolades or praise for our good works replace the faith that we need to demonstrate good works. Yes, “faith without works is dead,” as mentioned in James 2:26, but works without faith is dead also (Galatians 3).

When we begin phases of our spiritual journey or a professional job, we are so hyped by faith. By faith, we have just received salvation, stepped into a calling, started a new job, or endured a crisis. So, our “Faith Richter Scale” registers high. As long as we want to please God and ask Him to give us His guidance the “faith-scale” register remains up. However, as we progress through this journey and the answers to questions about what to do, how to do it, and what to say are less challenging, it can become common and uneventful and in some cases mundane and boring. The lesson to teach, the song to sing, what meeting to attend, or the sermon to preach may change, but the everydayness of “the work” appears to be the same.

The everydayness of our Christian work can eventually cause us to seek validation from others that we’re still doing a great job, we still matter, and people are being blessed by what we do. As a result, this shifts our focus from our “faith” to our “works.”

I remember an experience as a worship leader when the pastor asked me to “sing the song of the Lord.” This “song” typically was one that God would place in my spirit designed specifically for the moment to minister to the people. The keyboardist would follow and play whatever tune God placed in her spirit and together we would present a new song from heaven. Not really realizing it, I had switched my focus. I had clearly forgotten that my faith in God to guide me in singing His song was the spiritual catalyst for His song. As I stood waiting to excite the people with the “song of the Lord,” nothing came to me. I stood there waiting on God and still nothing came. No song, not even a tune to hum! As I stood there looking perplexed, the pastor looked back at me because several minutes had passed and receiving a song of the Lord by the appointed and anointed worship leader had never taken this long. I wasn’t ready. I was so accustomed (even expecting) someone to tell me how the “song” had blessed them, I didn’t even realize I wasn’t listening for God’s song to me and the people. I was waiting for Him to give me the song that would result in the praise of how “anointed” I was to hear from God.

After this embarrassing experience, I sought God and it didn’t take long for me to hear Him this time because I wanted to know what I had done and I wanted to please Him. (Note: Hebrews 11:6 says “but without faith, it is impossible to please him.”) My focus was back on Him which positioned me to hear from Him. I soon realized that I was thinking more about the praise of the people as a singer and worship leader, rather than singing by faith as His vessel. Today, I constantly pray and examine myself for any evidence of seeking praise from people. For example, when I didn’t have money, was I embarrassed because no one saw me put anything in the offering plate, or was I yearning to give to the ministry’s work of the Lord?

Question: When was the last time you checked your “works by faith” radar to determine if you were seeking the praise of people or demonstrating faith in God?

Challenge: Genuinely examine your actions over the next week and ask God if you’re seeking the praise of people or exemplifying works of faith. Since we can justify our realities, let’s not try and answer this question on our own. Listen for God’s loving voice, and he will guide you into all truth.