How do we take compliments?

Do we dismiss them with self-deprecation?

Use humor? Or perhaps take them to heart?

In this Lenten season, in which we ponder the idea of humility and meekness, we can entertain the notion of compliments as an opportunity to honor God - the One from whom all good things come.

The scene depicted below is a historic one - it is Jacob meeting Esau for the first time in years.
For those familiar with the story, we remember that Esau, the elder, had been tricked out of his birthright by the younger Jacob, who thus received his father, Isaac's, blessing. What followed was years of alienation during which Jacob dodged and feared his avenging older brother.

What eventually happened, as illustrated here, is a meeting of the two adults. In Genesis 33, we hear them approach one another and Esau asks who all the people (and property) behind Jacob are. And Jacob gives an epic answer which I paraphrase here: 'These are the things God has graciously given his servant.'

We do well to learn much from this statement.

When we're asked, 'Where did you get that new car? Great kids? Fine career? Fill in the blank.' Jacob, and you and me, ponder the true origin of all that we have: 'This is the ___________ whom God has graciously given his servant.'

In what way might we take to the intentionality of putting God at the center - as the subject - of all we have, experience, and are?


Reading
A Hitchhiker's Guide to Jesus - Bruce Fisk
A Severe Mercy - Sheldon Vanauken
Generation Ex-Christian - Drew Dyck