Jesus asks us, "How can ye believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? " John 5:44
It is not seeking honor of men, but receiving it; that is, opening our heart to the cordial reception of human praise, or flattery, or fame, that utterly contravenes the repose of the soul in God.
Receiving honor from men is a great virtue in the eyes of the world, but this is an instance in which things highly esteemed among men are an abomination to the Lord.
It may not be seen by all at the first glance, how receiving worldly honor can prevent true faith in God...
But a little reflection will show us that receiving worldly honor is an insidious, subtle and malignant form of idolatry.
It has in it the element of man-fearing as well as man-worship.
It is a subtle way of putting self in the place of God.
It implies that our chief happiness comes from man, which is an ignoring of the true fountain of joy, and the hewing out of broken cisterns.
This deference to the creature, this fearing or cringing to man, this love of place and distinction for self...severs the soul from Christ, diverts its trust to come from other objects and destroys true faith.
~G. D. Watson~
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