The Worth of a Kudo

Scripture References: Judges 6:12, 14; Luke 7:48, 50

Abba Eban, the Israeli statesman, impacts the twentieth century as one of its most eloquent speakers. From his earliest days he developed a skill generally lost to our generation. Henry Steele Commager and the London Times literary supplement compared him to Charles Burke and even Cicero. In classic understatement Eban noted that one need not take the eulogies at full value to be impressed and encouraged by them.

Positive reinforcement appreciates present achievement and encourages greater achievement. What people are inside determines whether praise makes them shrink, grow, or merely swell; whether it thwarts or stimulates greater effort, or freezes them in self-adoration. Humble people accept kudos as a challenge to excel present achievement. They serve from love, in competition only within themselves, and appreciate the notice someone takes of their efforts.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.