Charles Spurgeon’s popularity as a young preacher was unmatched. The congregation at the New Park Street Chapel in London in the winter of 1853 was only a few dozen. But thanks to the young preacher, they outgrew the 1,000-seat chapel in less than a year. And the crowds kept growing. They would eventually outgrow the 3,000-seat Exeter Hall and eventually fill the 10,000-seat Surrey Gardens Music Hall. His weekly sermons would begin to be published in 1855, and they would continue to be sold throughout the English-speaking world for the next 63 years. In 1861, the magnificent Metropolitan Tabernacle would be built, a building that housed the largest congregation in evangelicalism.
To be sure, with so much success, Spurgeon attracted constant criticism. But more dangerous, in his view, was the praise of men. Writing to a friend in 1855, Spurgeon confessed, “My pride is so infernal that there is not a man on earth who can hold it in… Sometimes, I get such a view of my own insignificance that I call myself all the fools in the world for even letting pride pass my door without frowning at him.” The popularity he experienced meant that he had to be on constant guard against pride. This was a battle that he fought throughout his 40 years of pastoral ministry.
As a seasoned pastor, Spurgeon wrote an article in 1880 warning aspiring preachers of the pitfall of becoming dependent on human praise: “The youthful worker is very apt to be exalted should he receive a little praise, and there are many injudicious persons who are ready to lavish eulogiums upon any young beginner who seems to be at all promising.”[1]
Whether a “youthful worker” or a seasoned pastor, we all deal with the fear of man, that is, a wrong desire for human approval, even above God’s approval. So what advice would Spurgeon have for us in dealing with the praise of men? He would have us keep in mind four warnings:
The praise of men is fickle
First, Spurgeon would say, flattery is fickle. Those who use flattery are often using it for some personal advantage, and when that motive is gone, the flattery may soon change to nothing at all. So why build your hopes on something so empty?
When a man with a loud mouth praises me, I have good reason to be wary in my dealings with him. The boa-constrictor first covers its victim with saliva, and then swallows him; and we have known serpents, of both sexes do the same with young preachers. Beware of the net of the flatterer, and the bait of the maker of compliments. Human opinion is so changeable, and even while it lasts it is of so mixed a character, that it is virtually worth nothing at all. We all remember how the men of Lystra first offered to worship Paul, and then within an hour began to stone him. Who cares to run for a crown which melts as soon as it wreathes the winner’s brow? The flash of a wave, or the gleam of a meteor, is not more fleeting than popular applause.
The praise of men weakens our ability to handle criticism
To build your sense of security and confidence on the praise of men is to make yourself more vulnerable to the criticisms of men. If we love the praise of men, we will not be able to withstand the attacks of our critics.
Another consideration is suggested by experience, namely, that praise is exceedingly weakening. If we allow ourselves to feel its soft and pleasant influence, it lays us open to feel the caustic and painful effects of censure. After a judge had passed sentence upon a certain prisoner, the foreman of the jury that had convicted him began to compliment his lordship upon the remarks which he had made, and the term of imprisonment which he had awarded, but the judge at once stopped him, knowing well that if he had allowed himself to be praised by one jury, he would be liable to be blamed by another. If we are pervious to one influence, we shall be subject to its opposite. We are quite sure to be slandered and abused, and it is well, therefore, for us to have a somewhat thick skin, but if we listen to commendation, it makes us tender, and deprives us of that which might have been like armor to the soul. If we allow ourselves to be charmed by the tinklings of flattery, we shall be alarmed by the harsh notes of detraction. We must either be proof against both influences, or against neither.
To counteract this effect, Spurgeon would encourage you to listen to your critics. Just as you have to be discerning when listening to your critics, so you have to be discerning when listening to the praise of men. Hearing both sides will help you avoid becoming imbalanced in your view of yourself.
The victim of unwise compliments has only to walk into another room, and hear how roundly certain persons are abusing him, and he will find it a very useful tonic. It is never summer all over the world at one time, and no public person is being everywhere esteemed. Probably, it is well for the interests of truth that excesses in judgment are relieved by their opposites.
The praise of men enslaves us to human opinion
Ironically, those who live for the praise of men will actually find themselves despised by men. These will be men without conviction or direction but blown about by every wind of human opinion. Such men will be of no help to others.
A man who becomes dependent upon the opinions of others lays himself open to contempt. It is impossible to think highly of a person who fishes for compliments. To value esteem so much as to go out of our way after it is the surest possible way to lose it.
The only freedom from our bondage to the fear of man is a proper fear of God; in other words, so living for the approval of God that the opinions of men seem small and insignificant in comparison. Especially for ministers, apart from a biblical fear of God, we will not carry out our ministries faithfully.
When we consider how unevenly the human hand holds the balances, we may feel but small concern when we are weighed by our fellow-men. If we consider how infinitely precious is the divine regard, we shall live to gain it, and so shall rise above all slavish consideration of the opinions of our fellows. What said the wise apostle Paul? “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 4:3, 4.)
The praise of men never satisfies
Finally, Spurgeon would warn you that human praise can never satisfy.
Individuals there are abroad who can suck in any measure of praise, and retain a large receptiveness for more: they take to it, and thrive in it, like fish in water. You may choke a dog with pudding, but you could never satiate, nor even satisfy, these people with praise.
The reason human praise can never satisfy is because our hearts were meant to be filled with something far greater, namely the love of God. So find your satisfaction there, and be freed from your addiction to the praise of men.
[1] All quotes taken from C. H. Spurgeon, “Praise of Men,” The Sword and the Trowel, 1880 (London: Passmore & Alabaster), 217-218.