How do you accept compliments?

[Sword-In-Hand]

Maybe this bothers me more than it should, or perhaps God is just keeping me humble, but I would like some opinions on this.

The Lord called me to be a writer and that's what I've been doing for the last two years. Everything from novels, screenplays and theatrical plays. Our drama team performs alot for our church and after our performances I am bombarded with people saying "you did a wonderful job", "did you write those? that was so great", "you really have talent" and the list goes on.

How do I reply to these compliments? I remember the story where Moses took glory away from what God did by springing water from the rock. He used the term "we" instead of "Him" and for that he was not permitted to see the promised land. Now this scares me to death. I don't want God to strip me of the talents He has given me, so honestly I don't know how to reply when people say these things of gratitude. After the first twenty people say it, I say "its all the Lord" but after the two-hundreth person (literally) says it, i'm saying "thanks". Is that taking glory from God?

Silly subject I know, but one I would like to see some opinions on.

[Agape4u]

I usually reply with a Praise God or Thank God....don't know if that helps with that many folks complimenting you.

[ZiSunka]

How about, "Thank you, you are very kind," or "Thanks for the kind words." It in no way takes glory away from God for you to accept the appreciation of others, and you might seem like a geek if you give a speech about God every time someone gives you a compliment.

Besides, Moses didn't get to go into the promised land because he was one of the doubters, not because he didn't say "Him" instead of "we." He was prevented from leading the congregation into Israel by this action, but he would have still been able to have gone in himself. He didn't get banned from the promised land until he went along with the doubters and stayed out of the land instead of insisting that the Lord would protect them. See, he was still holding a gruge against God at that point, and maybe a little fear that God would change His mind. If God had changed His mind about Moses being the leader after all he had done for Him, then maybe God couldn't be trusted to be fair and keep his promises, Moses might have reasoned. See Numbers 20 to read the text on this subject.

Anyway, it's not wrong for you to take compliments on work you did. If you ever win an award or have other reason to address a crowd about your work, then you must, of course, give God the glory he is due, but you don't have to do that with each and every person who thanks you.

[daveleau]

A simple "thank you" is enough. You are only taking God's glory if you are prideful and think that this is all your doing. You could also say "thank you, God is good." One thing I try to avoid is saying that God is working through me. It is right to congratulate people for their work for God. These people are probably thanking God for your gifts as well.

[Gwenyfur]

God knows your heart. I'm on a different end being a musician, but I'm firmly grounded in the fact that without God, I can't play a single note right! He's proved it to me more than once LOL.

I don't give a speech per se, but when complimented overly much, I simply say, "it's God's Grace, thank you". It for some reason seems to stop the "overenthusiastic" while acknowledging that it's God's hand at work, not my own.

Hope this helps...

[Carrye]

How about, "Thank you, you are very kind," or "Thanks for the kind words." It in no way takes glory away from God for you to accept the appreciation of others,
I absolutely agree, and actually would go so far as to say that if you don't accept their kind words, you may be being prideful. That was actually something I struggled with for a while - "oh no, it's not really that great". But He has said, "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven" (Mt 5:17).

When God crowns our merits, he is crowning nothing other than His gifts. -- St. Augustine of Hippo

[lucypevensie]

I think saying just plain "thank you" is very appropriate. Your heart attitude is what's most important anyway. If you are prideful that will manifest itself, and nothing you say could cover it up, even if you say all the glory goes to God. Pride is so obvious. and I don't think you are prideful:)

[BubblesRelena]

Just saying "Thank You" is alright. Besides, we are whitnesses to others for God by the fruits we bear. Your actions speak louder than words. People can still see and understand you're a christian even if you don't respond with "It was all God" a million times over to different people. Just keep God in our live and attitude and stay humbled. He knows you love Him and thank Him for your wonderful gift.

~BubblesRelena

[630111]

Maybe this bothers me more than it should, or perhaps God is just keeping me humble, but I would like some opinions on this.

The Lord called me to be a writer and that's what I've been doing for the last two years. Everything from novels, screenplays and theatrical plays. Our drama team performs alot for our church and after our performances I am bombarded with people saying "you did a wonderful job", "did you write those? that was so great", "you really have talent" and the list goes on.

How do I reply to these compliments? I remember the story where Moses took glory away from what God did by springing water from the rock. He used the term "we" instead of "Him" and for that he was not permitted to see the promised land. Now this scares me to death. I don't want God to strip me of the talents He has given me, so honestly I don't know how to reply when people say these things of gratitude. After the first twenty people say it, I say "its all the Lord" but after the two-hundreth person (literally) says it, i'm saying "thanks". Is that taking glory from God?

Silly subject I know, but one I would like to see some opinions on.
Not silly at all, it's a great question and one of those things not covered in Teen 101!

I grew up with a very low sense of self-esteem. When I was in 7th or 8th grade, we all had to do a project. The teacher was really impressed with mine, and began showering the compliments. I didn't know how to handle it, and for every compliment I said something negative about the job I'd done. After a few times of this, her smile turned into a frown and she called me into the hallway. She tore me a new one about accepting compliments and it's something I remember to this day.

God calls us to be humble. When you're complimented, give the credit to Him because when it comes down to it, each of us are gifted by Him. Keep that in mind and you won't go wrong.

[C.I. Scofield]

As a writer and musician. I can totally
understand... A simple thank you or thanks, would be okay. God knows our hearts. Nothing wrong with accepting a compliment.


It's all in your where your Heart is.

CIS
:preach:

[kleptobismol]

i say thanx, or credit it to God with a thanx, it was only done thru the Lord

[Glisten]

I just simply blush. :blush:

[Lena75]

Lol, I blush too. But also a simple thank you is plenty. And if you don't want to talk about it (like me :blush: ) just change the subject.

[Sword-In-Hand]

I guess my problem is I'm one of the shyest people in the world, but God's ministry always leads me to a stage. Which I hope shows people it is about Him and not me, because I would not purposely get on a stage for anything other than the Lord lol. I forgot to mention that I'm the bass player in our praise team and it's about the same as the drama situation. Doing 360s every five seconds to say thank you to someone lol.:)

Thanks for all the great advice and scriptures. Really means alot to me.