How to reply to a "preaching" compliment

There is a funny phenomenon that pastors face on a weekly basis—how to reply to a “preaching” compliment. Don’t get me wrong, everyone enjoys verbal encouragement after pouring out their hearts in a message. But replying to a preaching compliment is no easy matter. The tension is between looking like an arrogant jerk or sounding inauthentic by using God-talk.

For instance, I’m walking off the stage, and someone says: Pastor Rob you did a great job. I have two basic choices. I can either say, “thank you” and appear as if I am receiving the credit. Or I can take the “spiritual” way and say, “well, don’t praise me, praise the Lord!”

But my message wasn’t THAT good.

I mean, if it were really all God and none of me in the message, it would be a much, MUCH, better message. We’re talking about full-on revival here. But the truth is, as much as a pastor tries to rely on the Spirit of God in a message, it’s always going to be a blend of God stuff and human stuff. (I actually think that God likes it that way too.)

So personally I tend to walk a middle ground of saying “thank you” with my lips, but in my heart doing some spiritual jujitsu. Inside, I try to imagine that any praise I receive bounces off me and heads straight to heaven where it belongs. I mean, after all he created me. He gave me any gifts I may have. He gave me the calling and the purpose in my life. It is he who redeemed me.

I imagine we could all apply this principal in our daily lives. Any time we receive a compliment we can inwardly give it up to God.  You don't have to be giving a message.

So the next time someone compliments you, don’t feel like you have to sound overly spiritual. But allow all the praise you receive to reflect up to him where it belongs!