The only one to cling to praise like it defines me. The only one to get a mental high from affirmation. The only one to feel like criticism is a physical blow. The only one to make encouragement an idol.
I don't think I'm the only one because the Bible tells me I'm not. Praise-addiction is a universal sin condition. Humans love to be exalted and hate to be humbled. Constructive criticism is poisonous to an inflated ego. No, the ego does not want your "suggestions." It wants to be fed to stuffing with its own self-importance.
This sounds harsh because it is. Self-idolatry, self-glory, is serious sin. It communicates destructive thinking and an attitude God hates (Prov. 6:16-17).
So then, affirmation is not the problem. Self-glory is.
Moving away from the addictive allure of this idolatry starts with repentance and contrition. Then it slides into practical living. I can think of no better antidote for self-glory than criticism.
These days I get a lot of criticism (as does anyone who's writing a book) and am sure to get a great deal more in the weeks and months and years to come. Criticism comes to us in all colors and flavors and shapes. Some is unfairly cruel and some is deeply valuable. All can be learned from.
Learning to accept criticism well is a powerful antidote to self-glory, because it forces us to accept that we are imperfect. We make mistakes. We fail. We are unworthy of glory. It reinforces experientially our profound littleness. We are not God. We do not deserve affirmation, praise, and worship. But God, He does. Everything good or successful that we do is because of His glory and not ours.
The next time you get affirmation, the next time you feel the high of praise, the rush of success, give God the glory. Deflate your growing ego and praise God for His work in your life.
It's not all about us. It's really not. It's about Him.