What Use is Praise?

Seeking the praise of the world will only lead to lost opportunities. Sure, it feels nice to be complimented and acknowledged, but if that is our main and only driving force, then we will be left empty.Job is an excellent example of following the Lord, even when his friends chastise and turn against him.Imagine if Job had decided to take his friends' and wife's advice to "curse God and die!"(Job 2:9) Job's story certainly would not have turned out the same.If I turn to my peers and so turn against the Lord, I will lose the opportunities God has provided. But if I instead turn wholly to the Lord, then He will be able to bless me more than I could imagine.

Though all blessings come from the Lord, in order to obtain these blessings we must be as Job, who knew that the Lord was there for him, even when he was in the lowest of lows. Although he also had his times of despair and hopelessness, Job still believed in God and His almighty power to save.As we take Job's example to heart and wait upon the Lord, 

If we choose to praise God instead of curse Him during times of adversity, then His presence will fill our lives. During my own times of despair, if I can remember Job’s story and so remember my faith, then the Lord will help me through it. At the end, I will become stronger in faith and blessed as the Lord sees fit. Towards ourselves, praise will do very little, but praise towards God will show Him our gratitude, and open the windows of heaven.