Falso.
Fear of exposure is an interesting beast isn't it? I remember a moment with my ex-fiancee in front of me as she gave me back the ring and said, "When you want me to have this, you can get me another." My heart shook as slowly took the ring and looked away before I creaked out the question, "What do your friends think about all this? About me?"
Revealing question, huh? Not "Hey talk to me," or "I understand that I have been failing in my pursuit of you," or even, "yeah you're right, I'm sorry I've dishonored you as I have." I was concerned with how others, girls in particular, felt about me. At least while she still had the ring, I was justified, I was still a marriable man. Taking it back spoke something else about me.
Was it true? Was I much less mature? Was I much less desirable? Was I not as great as every girl thought? Yes, I was. I am. See, I wanted to be the guy every girl wants to be with. I want to be their greatest need; it brings me glory. It brings me esteem, praise, honor. It brings me smiles. But these are all in vain. They have the appearance and luster of treasure, something to be highly guarded, but they rot away - fall away like dust into a grave - in the light of eternity. Or even quicker, maybe not 2 minutes after I've felt their affirmation.
But the deal is, I am not man's greatest need like I want to be. Nor is another person mine. I can be rejected from direct contact from another's spirit -- I ought to be. It is no small thing to operate in fishing mode (fishing for compliments, verbal or otherwise). We may understand what it is cast and receive compliments, but we are not meant to take them into the vaults of our hearts, nor ought we seek to be comfortably seated on the inner throne of another's heart.
In receiving, the vaults of our hearts will sustain only the estimation that comes from God the Father's opinion of us. On the throne within, God alone can reside. There we ought to fear. When we consider Him as man's greatest need, and we understand the why as well, we tremble at the thought of projecting ourselves into the vaults of someone else's heart and we think twice about letting someone's in.
So then what is God's opinion of us? We are esteemed. We are exalted. In our humble state, those who trust in Jesus, also trust that he pleads our case to the Father, "This one is mine." We trust that his blood fashions for us acceptability before the Holy Presence, "See he is spotless and pure." No condemnation can ever stick to us. No praise of man either. All goes to Christ who bore our our condemnation to its very end - death - that we might be free to see what is actually worthy of entrance into the vaults of our hearts - God himself with his Spirit residing, presiding within us.
At words' end, sitting before her, I was exposed in my humanity, my sin and true "greatness" laid bare, yet I still wanted their praises. No, I can not receive praises because I am human - I am not their greatest need therefore I cannot demand it. I am not their greatest need so I can be exposed. They are not my greatest need so their opinions of me are not everlasting.
With such a security then in Christ, I find movement to be who I am, and more over to love others and seek their good, regardless of their push and pull for more or less.
For the Record: It wasn't that great a ring to begin with.
