A podcast listener named Dan writes in to ask this, Pastor John, how do I conquer the love

of human praise?

My heart is so prideful.

Well, let me say that Dan has already made two key discoveries that I hear in the question

one, is that there are two kinds of pride.

There's the pride of the strong that praises itself, praises himself, and there's the pride

of the weak that craves other people to praise me.

And the other discovery that Dan has made is that he's more guilty of the second than

the first.

And I say more guilty because all of us are guilty of both.

Everybody draws attention to himself at some time and brags.

And everybody wants other people to notice when we do something, it tastes good to be

affirmed and praised.

So this is a universal question, he's not unique.

And it is amazing to me how directly Jesus addresses this issue in the Sermon on the

Mount.

Listen to this.

Matthew 6.

When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogue

and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.

Truly I say to you, they have received their reward.

In verse 5.

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