John 15:8
Bearing Fruit
If Jesus had merely said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,” it would appear that we should seek human praise. But those who are hypocrites, who cherish honors and covet emptiest glory, seek such praise. Scripture says about such people, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Also, “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Therefore, our Lord didn’t merely say, “that they may see your good works.” But He added, “and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
The mere fact that people please other by their good works doesn’t make pleasing others an end in itself. Instead, please others so that God can be glorified in you. And those who offer praise should honor God, not other people. Our Lord demonstrated this when He healed the paralytic. Marveling at His powers, the multitude “feared and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” And Christ’s imitator, the apostle Paul, says, “But they had heard only that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed; and they glorified God in me.”
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
Bearing Fruit
If Jesus had merely said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,” it would appear that we should seek human praise. But those who are hypocrites, who cherish honors and covet emptiest glory, seek such praise. Scripture says about such people, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Also, “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Therefore, our Lord didn’t merely say, “that they may see your good works.” But He added, “and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
The mere fact that people please other by their good works doesn’t make pleasing others an end in itself. Instead, please others so that God can be glorified in you. And those who offer praise should honor God, not other people. Our Lord demonstrated this when He healed the paralytic. Marveling at His powers, the multitude “feared and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” And Christ’s imitator, the apostle Paul, says, “But they had heard only that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed; and they glorified God in me.”
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
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